Mumu blinked her big, adorable eyes, "Brother said we should go back to sleep comfortably."
Nan Xiao smiled and patted his son's small head, "Sleep here. Otherwise, Mom will be angry if she can't see you two tomorrow morning."
Mumu quickly turned to look at her brother.
Chao Chao thought for a moment before nodding.
Mumu was so happy she almost let out a laugh, but remembering that her mother was already asleep, she quickly covered her mouth.
Nan Xiao smiled, kissed the little one, and turned off the ceiling light with the remote.
Without the light, the two little ones fell asleep quickly this time. Nan Xiao waited until they were both sound asleep before rolling over and pulling Lan Yuxi into his arms.
His wife hadn't slept all night dealing with matters, so even though he missed her terribly, he had to restrain himself.
The next day, Lan Yuxi woke up in Nan Xiao's arms.
She tilted her small head and stared at his slightly stubbled chin for a while before smiling and raising her hand. However, before her hand could reach his chin, Nan Xiao quickly grabbed it.
Nan Xiao opened his eyes with a low chuckle, "You've been staring for so long and you're still not satisfied? Want to touch me again?"
Lan Yuxi pouted, "You're awake and pretending to be asleep!"
"I just wanted to let you look your fill," Nan Xiao smiled and slipped his hand under her pajama top, "You have to compensate me well tonight."
Lan Yuxi grabbed his mischievous hand, "My aunt is visiting tonight, so you don't have a chance."
Nan Xiao chuckled and bit her lip, "I'll call your aunt later and ask her to come a day later."
Lan Yuxi giggled, "You sleep a little longer. Zi Xin and I are going to the mountain to pay respects to Uncle Jingsong and Aunt Lingyun. We're leaving at eight."
Nan Xiao's eyes darkened, "I'll go with you."
Lan Yuxi paused, "If you're not tired, then come along. I want Uncle Jingsong and Aunt Lingyun to see the two children."
Nan Xiao glanced at the time, "If we're leaving at eight, it's time to wake them up."
"Mm." Lan Yuxi took his hand away and, leaning on him, gently patted Chao Chao and Mumu's little faces, "Babies, time to wake up."
Mumu whimpered and burrowed into Chao Chao's embrace.
Chao Chao reflexively reached out and hugged her.
Nan Xiao smiled and stroked Lan Yuxi's back, "See? Don't they look like we used to?"
Lan Yuxi tilted her head and looked for a moment, "Do they? I remember when I tried to snuggle into your arms when I was little, you always pushed me away."
"No way! I never pushed you away," Nan Xiao smiled and pinched her little bottom, "Why don't you go wash up first? I'll wake them up."
"Alright." Lan Yuxi rolled out of bed and accidentally knocked her phone off the nightstand.
Chao Chao heard the sound and his eyes shot open, "Mom, is it time?"
"Yes, can you get up?" Lan Yuxi bent down to pick up her phone, "If you can't get up, then next time Mom will take you and your sister alone."
"Mom has been sad once, we can't let Mom be sad again."
Lan Yuxi touched her son's small head with relief, "Baby, how can you be so sensible!"
Chao Chao smiled and tugged on Mumu's ear, "We're going to have ice cream!"
As soon as Mumu heard about ice cream, her previously furrowed little face instantly smoothed out. The next second, the little girl's big, dark eyes flew open, "Where's the ice cream?"
Lan Yuxi and Nan Xiao were amused by her adorable look and burst into laughter.
Mumu pouted and sat up, "I knew you were tricking me!"
Nan Xiao smiled, "Brother isn't tricking you. Dad will buy you some when we get back."
"Really!?"
"Really!"
Mumu clapped her hands and happily hopped out of bed.
Chao Chao shook his head with a sigh of resignation and then also got out of bed.
Nan Xiao and Lan Yuxi exchanged a glance and sat up with smiles.
At the breakfast table, everyone was used to seeing the family of four walk in.
Tang Wan smiled and gestured for them to sit down before asking, "Nan Xiao, you came back very late again last night, didn't you?"
Nan Xiao replied with a smile, "It was okay, not too late. I didn't want to disturb your rest, so I didn't show myself."
Just as Mumu was about to speak, Chao Chao stuffed a steamed bun into her mouth, "Eat quickly. If they have to wait for you alone, there'll be no ice cream."
Mumu glared at Chao Chao with a fierce pout.
Chao Chao gave her a look, and Mumu immediately deflated, swallowing the bun with a pout.
Lan Haolin smiled, "Mumu, don't be angry. Grandpa will buy you some."
"Thank you, Grandpa! Grandpa is the best!"
At exactly eight o'clock, the family departed from the villa on the mountainside, heading straight for Qinglong Mountain Cemetery.
At nine fifteen, the family, holding flowers, ascended the steps.
Lan Yuxi and Lan Zixin were the first to reach the tombstone, tears already streaming down both girls' faces.
Lan Zixin looked up at her parents in military uniform on the tombstone. This was the first time she had seen them, as her grandmother had cut all ties with them and hadn't even kept a single photo.
Lan Zixin, her eyes filled with hot tears, knelt with a thud, "Wuwu... Mom, Dad, I am your biological daughter, Zixin. Xi'er, I, and our whole family are here to see you."
Lan Yuxi also knelt down, sobbing, "Mom, Dad, I'm back, but I've been too afraid to come and see you. I'm sorry to you, and even more so to Sister Zixin and Grandma... If it weren't for me, your family would surely have been very happy... Wuwu..."
Seeing the two girls sobbing, Nan Xiao and Lan Mushang quickly walked over and helped them up.
"Don't cry. Sister Lingyun and Brother-in-law Jingsong would be very comforted to know that you sisters are both doing well."
Lan Mushang hugged Lan Zixin tightly, "Uncle, Aunt, I am Lan Mushang, Zixin's former big brother and future husband. I promise you, from this day forward, Zixin will not be harmed in the slightest. I will cherish her as my life and protect her well."
Nan Xiao took out a tissue and wiped Lan Yuxi's tears before speaking in a deep voice to the Lingyun couple on the tombstone, "Sister, Brother-in-law, I am Nan Xiao. I'm with Xi Bao now, and we have two lovely children... Also, your revenge has been taken. You can rest in peace now."
As Nan Xiao spoke, he looked at his son and daughter standing behind him, "Chao Chao, Mumu, come and meet your maternal grandparents."
Chao Chao slowly walked over, holding Mumu's hand. The two little ones placed the flowers in their hands in front of the tombstone. Without waiting for Nan Xiao and Lan Yuxi to speak, they both knelt down.
"Grandpa, Grandma, I am Chao Chao, and this is my sister Mumu. Mom always told us your stories when we were little. I know you are both heroes, and when I grow up, I want to be like you!"
After her brother finished speaking, Mumu, her little eyes red, bowed to the tombstone, "Grandpa, Grandma, I am Mumu. From now on, my brother and I will definitely be filial to Mom, Aunt Zixin, and Great-Grandma."