Chapter 168 Mother's Embrace
Meng Wan's all-seeing eyes stared fixedly at her son.
Lu Jingyan met his mother's gaze and said in a low voice, "Mom, the story begins in Shanghai."
He recounted how the Su family joined forces with the Hongmen to set up a trap to devour everything Wan Tang and her mother had left behind.
He recounted the devastating explosion at the dock warehouse, explaining how he witnessed the inferno and believed she was truly gone forever.
It tells how she used the explosion to escape, faked her death, and went by the alias "Bai Shu," transforming herself from an orphaned girl of the Su family who was bullied by everyone into a solitary avenger in the dark night.
"...She was all alone, with no one to rely on, facing the entire Hongmen and a deeply entrenched 'eagle's nest.' Without 'dying' once, she would never be able to move from the light to the shadows, let alone have the opportunity to find out the truth about her mother's death."
"After that, she went to Hong Kong Island, stirred up a storm, and then returned to Beijing. Every step she took was a dangerous one."
Lu Jingyan's voice was flat, but Meng Wan could hear the lingering fear and heartache suppressed beneath that calm.
Meng Wan listened quietly, without moving.
The scrutinizing and examining look from before was gone from her face.
The initial shock reached its peak upon hearing "explosion" and "feigned death." She instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, her knuckles turning white from the force.
But as Lu Jingyan recounted the story, that initial shock was gradually replaced by a deeper and more complex emotion.
It's heartbreaking.
It's an overwhelming feeling of heartache.
She finally understood.
She finally understood why this girl named "Bai Shu" possessed a calmness and perseverance that were completely incongruous with her age.
She finally understood why there was always an unyielding loneliness and desolation hidden deep in her eyes.
She finally understood why she could diagnose the rare poison of the "Dead Leaf Butterfly" without batting an eye, and why she could produce those unheard-of life-saving medicinal herbs.
It turns out that this twenty-year-old child had already crawled out of hell once, all by himself.
The hardships she endured were unimaginable to a professor who had spent her entire life peacefully in her study.
This child is not some lucky star sent from heaven; she is just a pitiful person who has used all her strength to desperately try to survive.
When Lu Jingyan finished speaking the last word, the entire room fell silent once again.
Su Wantang had already walked up to them without them noticing.
She stopped three steps away from Meng Wan.
She looked at Meng Wan, and in those peach blossom eyes that were always as cold and aloof as frost, a hint of unease and anxiety was revealed that even she herself had not noticed.
This was the first time she had faced Lu Jingyan's mother with the mindset of "Su Wantang" since returning to Beijing.
The fact that she had deceived such a gentle, wise elder who had chosen to unconditionally believe her from the very beginning made her feel uneasy.
She was prepared to face any possible questions, or even blame.
However, Meng Wan's reaction was completely beyond her expectations.
Meng Wan looked at the girl in front of her, at her feigned strength, and at the undisguised vulnerability in her eyes.
Meng Wan's eyes reddened without warning.
Tears blurred her vision in an instant.
She didn't utter a single word of blame.
Not a single question was posed.
She simply stepped forward, opened her arms, and tightly, tightly embraced the girl who was still standing there bewildered.
This hug was warm, carrying a mother's unique fragrance and softness.
“Good child…you’ve suffered so much…” Meng Wan’s voice was choked with sobs.
"It's good that you're back... It's good that you're alive."
She gently patted Su Wantang's stiff back with a force she cherished deeply.
"From now on, this will be your home, and I will be your mother."
boom--
Something exploded in Su Wantang's mind.
Having lived two lives, this was the first time she had been embraced with such unwavering devotion.
In her past life, she fought against illness for ten years, and breathed her last alone on a cold hospital bed.
In this life, she transmigrated into a book, believing she had the script of a female protagonist seeking revenge, destined to fight her way through life alone.
She used the ruthlessness of "Bai Shu" to forge an impenetrable armor for herself.
She thought she was immune to all poisons and had a heart of stone.
But this warm hug and the gentle words, "I am your mother," were like an indestructible key, easily unlocking the deepest lock in her heart.
Behind that lock lay all the grievances, resentments, pain, and loneliness she had endured throughout her two lifetimes.
That hardened facade, meant to protect us from the world, was utterly shattered at this moment, leaving not a single piece intact.
Su Wantang leaned against Meng Wan's chest, and the string that had been taut for so long finally snapped.
She didn't wail or make a sound.
Tears, like beads from a broken string, silently and surgingly slid down from her eyes, soaking the hot fabric of Meng Wan's clothes on her shoulders.
This was the first time in many years since she lost her mother that she had felt the warmth of maternal love again.
So this is what it feels like to be protected.
So this is what it feels like to have a home.
Lu Jingyan stood aside, quietly watching the two women embracing. His tall body remained motionless, but his eyes couldn't help but gradually redden.
After a long while, Meng Wan finally let go of his embrace.
She raised her hand and tenderly wiped away Su Wantang's tears with her fingertips. The movement was as gentle as if she were handling a rare treasure.
"Silly child, don't cry, it's all over now."
She took Su Wantang's hand, but that hand was icy cold and devoid of any warmth.
Meng Wan took her hand in her own palm and squeezed it tightly, trying to transfer her warmth to her.
Then, she turned to look at her son, her eyes regaining their clarity and resolve.
“Jingyan, I’ll talk to your father.”
Lu Zhenguo, the pillar of the Lu family, is an upright man with unwavering military discipline. Getting him to accept the absurd notion that his daughter-in-law has "come back to life" and taken on a new identity is no easy task.
But there was not a trace of hesitation in Meng Wan's tone.
She'll take the blame for this.
She paused, her gaze returning to Su Wantang's face, her tone filled with unspeakable gratitude and solemnity.
"But now, the most important thing is to wake your grandfather up."
“Our Lu family owes this child another life.” Meng Wan said these words softly, but they carried the weight of a mountain.
Lu Jingyan nodded heavily.
Su Wantang gradually calmed down. She sniffed, took Meng Wan's hand in return, and her peach blossom eyes, now free of tear stains, were surprisingly clear.
"Aunt Meng, Grandpa should wake up by tomorrow morning at the latest."
She paused, then added, "And you'll be more energetic than before."
The spiritual spring water and those rare medicinal herbs not only detoxify, but also fundamentally cleanse the marrow and strengthen the body's foundation.
“Okay, okay!” Meng Wan replied repeatedly, her eyes practically overflowing with joy.
Just then, the door to the ward was gently pushed open.
Gao Jianjun poked his head in, lowered his voice, and reported with a strange expression: "Brigade Commander, outside... those people outside are all... blocking the doorway, saying they want to come in and apologize to you and your sister-in-law."
The "those people" he was referring to were naturally Lu Wende and Lu Zongren's relatives who had previously clamored to drive the "witch" out.
They witnessed the medical miracle firsthand through the glass outside.
The old man, who had just received a critical condition notice from the hospital, drank a bowl of some unknown herbal soup, and the next second his electrocardiogram spiked like it had been injected with chicken blood.
These shrewd people understood immediately.
This "Bai Shu" is not a scourge, but a living god!
To be able to pull someone back from the brink of death—what incredible skill that is!
Offending her is tantamount to offending your future lifeline.
So, the crowd, who had been indignant just moments before, immediately changed their tune, regretting their actions and scrambling to come in and make amends for their mistakes.
Upon hearing this, Lu Jingyan frowned, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.
"Make them get out."
He didn't even bother to give her a second glance.
Su Wantang tugged at his sleeve and gently shook her head.
She looked at Meng Wan and asked softly, "Aunt Meng, what do you think?"
She was handing the initiative over to Meng Wan, and also expressing her respect for this elder through her actions.
Meng Wan gave her an approving look, feeling increasingly satisfied with her daughter-in-law.
He is capable, broad-minded, and knows when to advance and retreat.
She paused for a moment, then smiled gently, but that smile carried a sharp, unyielding edge befitting a professor.
"Let them in."
She said calmly, "It's better to clarify some things in front of everyone."
She wanted to personally vindicate her daughter-in-law!
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