Chapter 18 Going Home 2

The plane landed smoothly at Z City Airport, and the air seemed to be filled with a sense of peace and homecoming. Jiang Yining got into a ride-hailing car with her parents, and the elevated highways and modern buildings passing by outside the window were completely unfamiliar to her.

The car finally pulled into a quiet, mid-range residential area. "We're here." After paying the fare, Jiang's mother opened the car door, a hint of nervousness on her face, and whispered to Jiang Yining, "Your brother's family is waiting at home. We... haven't told Yunting the details yet, only that we've found our long-lost youngest daughter, and you... are now his 'sister'."

She paused, looking at her daughter's suddenly strange expression, and realized that her explanation was a bit far-fetched. Helplessly, she added, "Your dad said that this explanation makes more sense for things like household registration."

Jiang Yining's lips twitched, and she muttered softly, "Mom, this nonsense... do you think my brother would believe it? He watched me grow up!" The identity change from older sister to younger sister is too surreal.

Jiang's mother gently patted her arm, annoyed. "Believe it or not, the paternity test is in black and white. Remember, the matter of being reborn is a secret known only to heaven, earth, and a few of us. Don't tell anyone else, it won't do you any good." Jiang Yining nodded solemnly.

At this moment, in an apartment building in the residential complex, Jiang Yunting was pacing back and forth in frustration. His wife, Mu Qing, sat on the sofa holding their son, Jiang Chenhao, who had just woken up, and gently comforted her husband, "Your parents are sensible. Since they brought him back, there must be a reason. Let's wait and see."

"A long-lost sister?" Jiang Yunting scoffed, his brows furrowed. "I've lived for over twenty years and have never heard my parents mention a sister who's been separated from me. I don't know if my mother was pregnant back then? I remember even though I was young. Maybe my parents were fooled by some high-level swindler." The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he decided to have a good "meeting" with this so-called "sister."

The sound of a key turning in the lock filled the air. As soon as the door opened, a small figure rushed out like a cannonball: "Grandpa, Grandma!" Jiang Chenhao called out in a childish voice, throwing himself into his father's arms.

Jiang Yunting's gaze, however, was like that of a hawk, passing over his parents and fixed on the figure that followed him in.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The girl in the simple T-shirt and jeans was bending down to change her shoes. She looked up, revealing her face—the baby fat of my memory had faded, her features were more refined, but those clear, bright eyes with slightly downturned corners, those familiar eyebrows and eyes, that curve of her lips when she smiled…

"Sister... Sister?" Jiang Yunting felt as if he had been struck by an invisible hammer. His tall body swayed violently, and all his doubts and anger were instantly overwhelmed by an intuition that came from the depths of his blood.

He murmured, his eyes instantly turning red as he stared intently at Jiang Yining. Jiang's parents exchanged a glance, knowing they couldn't hide it any longer, and there was no need to. Jiang's mother sighed, pulling the still somewhat bewildered Mu Qing and her son into the study. The door closed, shutting out the children's curious gaze.

In the simplest language, Mr. Jiang told his son and daughter-in-law the truth of this "rebirth," which sounded like a fantasy but was supported by irrefutable evidence of paternity testing.

The study was silent, save for heavy breathing. Jiang Yunting and Mu Qing's faces were filled with utter shock and disbelief; this completely shattered their understanding of the world.

However, seeing the genuine joy and certainty in his parents' eyes as they looked at their child's recovered treasure, and seeing the weighty pamphlet of the paternity test report, all his doubts finally turned into a long, trembling sigh.

"Remember, from now on, Ningning will be your little sister."

Jiang's mother took Mu Qing's hand and walked to Jiang Yining: "Ningning, this is your sister-in-law, Mu Qing. This is your nephew, Chen Hao." She then said softly to Mu Qing, "Mu Qing, this is... Yining."

"Hello, sister-in-law." Jiang Yining greeted her with a smile, then bent down and gently pinched Xiao Chenhao's soft cheeks. "Chenhao, call her aunt."

"Coo coo," the little guy murmured, his big eyes curiously watching the newly appeared "coo coo."

The atmosphere seemed to ease. As night fell, Mu Qing and Jiang's mother went into the kitchen to prepare dinner. Jiang Yunting looked at his sister, who was playing with building blocks with Xiao Chenhao in the living room, his expression still complicated. He silently walked to the balcony and lit a cigarette.

After settling her nephew in, Jiang Yining followed him out. A gentle evening breeze blew, carrying the slight dryness of early summer.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Jiang Yining leaned against the railing, looking at her younger brother’s tense profile, her voice soft. “A face and a medical report alone can’t convince you. After all, the idea of ​​‘reincarnation’ is too far-fetched.”

Jiang Yunting didn't say anything, but just took a deep drag on his cigarette.

Jiang Yining smiled, her gaze fixed on the distant lights of the residential complex. She began to bombard him with secrets—secrets known only to her and her brother, secrets buried deep in their memories—one by one: