Having seen the world, it was best to first ascertain the other party's intentions. She didn't suspect a thief; this was a wealthy district, not just anyone could enter.
"Who?"
Shuxin, who was hesitating, replied, "...It's me."
The familiar voice startled Li Yun. She instinctively walked towards the door. Just then, Shuxin entered from outside. Mother and daughter met eyes. Li Yun froze for a long moment before daring to believe her eldest daughter had returned!
"You, where have you been all these years!"
Shuxin apologized, "I'm sorry, Mom. I was looking for Yueyue."
"What?" Li Yun couldn't believe her ears. Her eldest daughter was actually calling her Mom?
No, "What do you mean, looking for Yueyue? Does your sister need looking for?!"
Li Yun felt as if she were dreaming tonight. She believed she was hallucinating, not only seeing her eldest daughter return but also her vibrant youngest daughter.
Li Yun stared intently at Shuyue, who emerged from behind Shuxin. She dared not speak, nor even breathe, fearing any movement too large would shatter her illusion.
Shuyue looked at her shocked and tearful mother, her nose stinging as tears fell. "Mom, it's me. I'm back."
As soon as she finished speaking, Shuxin lightly slapped her hand. "You should say you're not dead, otherwise Mom will think your soul has returned."
Shuyue: "..." Very well, the sad emotions vanished as quickly as they came.
She directly hugged her mother, happily exclaiming, "Mom! I'm not dead, I'm alive and well!"
Li Yun's body stiffened, already stunned. The sudden shock was too much. Her eyes rolled back, and she fainted from emotion.
"Mom? Mom, are you okay?" Shuyue held her unconscious mother, tears welling up again.
Shuxin shook her head helplessly. "Help Mom onto the sofa first. She'll wake up soon."
Venteret and the children were strolling in the yard. Shuxin, fearing her parents would be too overwhelmed, decided to let them adjust to the situation before introducing them.
The two sisters had just helped their mother onto the sofa when someone rushed down the stairs. It was their father, Shu Kang, who had received the news two minutes later.
Shu Kang stopped halfway down the stairs, his expression becoming dazed, just like Li Yun's. "Xin'er? Yueyue?"
Shuyue's eyes welled up with tears. "Dad!"
...
After all, he was a man. Shu Kang was also emotional, but he managed to hold himself together. "Yueyue, you..."
Shuyue: "I'm not dead! I'm still alive!"
Shu Kang: "..." His vision blurred. He could no longer distinguish between illusion and reality. His youngest daughter was no longer a cold, stone tablet but stood alive before him!
One hour later...
Shu Kang and his wife had stabilized their emotions and accepted the incredible events that had befallen their daughters. "So, Yueyue, you truly died, but your soul was reborn..."
Shuyue nodded. "Yes, although my body is different, I am still me."
Shu Kang took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on. He exclaimed excitedly, "You lived in another world for over a decade, and even got married and had children?"
Shuyue continued to nod. "Yes, they are outside now. Dad, do you want to meet them?"
Upon hearing that her children were outside, Li Yun could no longer sit still. "Hurry and let them in! Don't let the children catch a cold outside."
The autumn night was cool. It wouldn't hurt the adults, but it would be bad if the children caught a chill.
Li Yun started to go outside, but Shuxin stood up and stopped her. "You sit down. I'll go call them."
Li Yun was stunned again. She always felt unsure how to interact with her eldest daughter. While she hesitated, Shuxin had already walked out the door.
Li Yun had no choice but to sit back on the sofa, looking at Shuyue with a complex expression. "Mom is truly gratified to see you two sisters reconcile in my lifetime."
Shuyue wiped her eyes. "It was all my immaturity before. After experiencing rebirth, I suddenly realized how childish and meaningless those past disputes were. Fortunately, we still have a chance to start over."
Her words brought Li Yun to tears again. She also felt self-reproach and guilt. If she had paid more attention to her children and spent time educating them instead of going to banquets, Shuyue wouldn't have made such mistakes, and Shuxin wouldn't have been estranged from the family for so many years.
After the deaths of her two daughters and one going missing, Li Yun lived in pain and self-blame every day. Now that they were lost and found, Li Yun was weeping with joy!
Shu Kang couldn't help but feel his eyes redden. Approaching old age, they had been successful in business but had managed their family relationships disastrously. They never expected heaven to be so kind to them!
Afraid of breaking down in tears again, Shuyue quickly shifted her parents' attention. "Mom, Dad, they're here."
The couple looked towards the door. First, two beautiful little girls entered, their eyes blinking curiously as they looked at them.
Then came two adolescent boys. Shu Kang and his wife looked puzzled. Neither of them looked like they were ten years old!
Finally, Shuxin entered with two large men. The couple's expressions changed dramatically. "Yueyue, this..."
Shuyue walked to the door and hugged Venter's arm, introducing them to her parents. "Mom, Dad, this is Venter, my partner."
Shuxin hooked Raiter's finger, and they separated. "This is Raiter, my partner."
Venter and Raiter also called out awkwardly, "Dad! Mom!"
Their accents confirmed they were foreigners.
Shu Bei and Shu An called out crisply, "Hello, Grandpa! Hello, Grandma!"
Lastly, Shu Ke and Long Yang entered.
Li Yun responded absentmindedly, instinctively moving closer to the two girls and embracing them, one on each side.
Shu Kang felt at a loss for words for the first time. He had intended to scrutinize his two new sons-in-law, but reality left him speechless.
The two men were burly, their bulging sleeves hinting at their strength. Their gazes were fierce and commanding. If they hadn't been standing before him, he might have thought they were lions who had transformed into humans.
Dominant. The two men exuded dominance.
This left Shu Kang unsure of what to say. Instead, he pointed at the two boys, questioning, "Your children are this old already?"
It was as if they had lived for more than ten years, perhaps twenty!
Shu Ke smiled and replied, "Grandpa, I am Shu Ke. I am twelve years old."
Long Yang also introduced himself. "Grandpa, I'm a few years younger than Brother Dabao. My name is Long Yang, and I'm six years old."
"What? Only six years old?" This was an astonishing ratio of age to height.
Shu Kang looked at his daughters, demanding an explanation.
Shuyue: "..."
Shuxin calmly stated, "It's a genetic issue."
She walked over to Long Yang, patting her son's head. "This is my son with Raiter. The other three are Yueyue's."
Shu Kang's jaw remained dropped, his surprised gaze fixed on Shuyue. "Yueyue, you have three?"
Shuyue blushed slightly and introduced them to her parents. "Shu Ke and Shu Bei are twins. Shu An is a year younger than them."
Strictly speaking, less than a year.