Chapter 70: Suspected Return of an Old Friend
Just as the morning sun was filtering through the bamboo shoots, the doorbell to the Lan family mansion rang. Wen Ning ran to open it, and when he returned, his voice trembling, "Master Wei, Master Jiang, it's... it's Miss Jiang and Master Jin who are back!"
"Senior Sister?" The teacup in Wei Wuxian's hand fell on the table with a clang, and the tea splashed on his sleeves, but he was completely unaware. He stood up suddenly and ran to the door, his movements so fast that he brought up a gust of wind.
Jiang Cheng followed closely behind, a rare hint of panic showing on his usually tense face, and his pace was even half a second faster than Wei Wuxian's.
On the stone steps at the entrance stood a pair of figures, walking hand in hand. The woman wore a simple dress, her long hair loosely tied up, her eyes as gentle as a spring lake. The man beside her wore a suit and tie, his posture erect, his eyes filled with doting as he looked at the woman—it was Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan.
"Axian, Acheng." Jiang Yanli's eyes lit up instantly when she saw them, and her voice was still as gentle as she remembered, "We're back."
“Senior Sister!” Wei Wuxian rushed over, almost subconsciously wanting to salute, but Jiang Yanli grabbed him. Her hand was warm and soft, carrying the familiar fragrance of lotus, too real to be an illusion.
Wei Wuxian's tears welled up without warning. The scene of his senior sister falling to protect him in Nevernight sixteen years ago was still vivid in his mind. Now, he could hold her hand again, feel the warmth of her palm, and his heart felt like it had been hit hard, aching and swollen.
Jiang Cheng stood there, his throat seemed to be blocked. Thousands of words rushed to his lips, but in the end they turned into a hoarse: "Sister." He looked at the living sister in front of him, his eyes instantly red, turned his face away and pretended to adjust his cuffs, but his fingertips were trembling slightly.
Jin Zixuan walked forward, patted Jiang Cheng on the shoulder, then looked at Wei Wuxian, helpless yet smiling: "Why are you still so reckless? You almost broke Yanli's hand."
This tone and expression are exactly the same as the proud but soft-hearted Jin Zixuan in my memory.
Wei WuXian finally came to his senses and quickly let go of her hand. He scratched his head sheepishly, but his tears fell even more fiercely: "Brother-in-law..."
"Why are you crying? It's not like you won't be coming back." Jiang Yanli smiled and took out a handkerchief. She stood on tiptoe and wiped his tears. Her movements were natural and intimate. "You're already a grown man, but you still act like a child."
Her fingertips brushed Wei Wuxian's cheek with a familiar tenderness, and Wei Wuxian suddenly felt as if he had instantly returned to his youth in Lotus Pier - his senior sister was the same back then, always sighing helplessly after he got into trouble, but would secretly give him a piece of freshly made lotus root and pork ribs soup.
"Mom! Dad!" Jin Ling's voice came from behind, filled with disbelief and surprise. He stood in the hallway, looking at his parents at the door, his little face filled with confusion and bewilderment. Since traveling to the present, he had only seen his parents in photos and heard from others that they were busy abroad all year round. This was the first time he saw them in person.
Jin Zixuan let go of Jiang Yanli's hand, walked towards his son, squatted down and opened his arms: "Jin Ling, come here."
Jin Ling hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked over. Jin Zixuan pulled him into a hug, not weak but filled with careful cherishment: "Sorry, son, mom and dad are back late."
This was the first time Jin Ling felt his father's embrace; it was warm and solid, completely different from what he had imagined. He leaned stiffly against his father's chest, his nose suddenly sore, and tears fell without warning.
Jiang Yanli walked over and gently stroked her son's hair, her voice so gentle that it could drip water: "Do you miss your mother? Mom will be less busy in the future, so I can spend more time with you, okay?"
Jin Ling raised his head and looked into his mother's smiling eyes. There was no blame in them, only love. He sniffed and nodded vigorously, his voice thick with nasal sounds: "Hmm!"
The director held up the camera and recorded the scene completely. In the camera, the reunited relatives hugged each other, some crying, some laughing, and the sun shone on them, coating them with a layer of warm gold. The comments were full of emotion:
"It brought tears to my eyes. This is what family is like. They are always so close no matter how long we are apart."
"Little Jin Ling finally got to see his parents. Seeing how sad he was crying, it was heartbreaking."
"Miss Jiang has such a great temperament! No wonder Teacher Wei and President Jiang are so attached to her. I'd be attached to her too!"
The audience just thought it was an ordinary reunion after a long separation. No one knew that this hug concealed sixteen years of separation between life and death, and these tears contained the loss and recovery across time and space.
When Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen came out, they saw Jiang Yanli embracing Jin Ling and giving him a piece of beautifully wrapped candy. Lan Xichen smiled and walked over, "Yanli, Zixuan, welcome home."
"Brother Xichen." Jiang Yanli smiled and nodded. Her eyes swept across the courtyard, finally landing on Lan Qiren. She bowed respectfully, "Mr. Lan."
Lan Qiren looked at her, his eyes softening. "I'm glad you're back. You must have had a hard time on the journey."
Wei Wuxian then remembered something and pulled Jiang Yanli towards the house, "Senior Sister, come in and sit down! Wen Ning just made lotus root and pork rib soup yesterday. I'll have him heat it up. I'm sure you'll like it!"
"Okay." Jiang Yanli responded with a smile and was pulled inside. When passing by Lan Wangji, she turned back and reminded him, "Axian, run slowly, don't fall."
Jin Zixuan shook his head helplessly and smiled at Lan Wangji: "It's still the same, nothing has changed."
Lan Wangji nodded, his gaze falling on Wei Wuxian's cheerful back, a faint smile in his eyes.
In the living room, Jiang Yanli was surrounded, listening to Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng chatter about their recent situation. She would occasionally interject, straighten one person's collar, pass a snack to another, and her gentleness, like a spring breeze, instantly smoothed out the wrinkles in everyone's heart.
Jin Ling sat beside his mother, holding the candy in his hand, watching his father and Uncle Lan discuss work. He suddenly felt that having his parents by his side was such a reassuring feeling. He secretly leaned closer to his mother. Jiang Yanli noticed it, reached out and put her arm around his shoulder, patting it gently.
Si Zhui and Lan Jingyi came over with some fruits and called out politely, "Hello Aunt Jiang, Hello Uncle Jin."
"This is Sizhui and Jingyi, right?" Jiang Yanli smiled and patted their heads. "They look so energetic, even prettier than in the photos." She pulled out two beautifully wrapped boxes from her bag. "These are gifts for you, little foreign gadgets. See if you like them."
Lan Jingyi's eyes lit up and he quickly thanked him. Si Zhui also said thank you with a red face. The two children held the gifts in their hands, their faces full of joy.
The director pointed the camera at Jiang Yanli and secretly sighed in his heart: No wonder Teacher Wei and President Jiang are so dependent on this Miss Jiang. This gentleness alone is enough to make people want to get close to her.
At lunchtime, Jiang Yanli personally cooked. A rich aroma soon wafted from the kitchen. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng clung to the doorframe, like two puppies waiting to be fed.
"Sister, use less chili pepper. Xian can't eat spicy food." Jiang Cheng couldn't help but remind her.
"I know." Jiang Yanli turned around and smiled, "Don't always think about eating spicy food. It's not good for your stomach."
Wei WuXian leaned over and looked at the lotus root and pork rib soup boiling in the pot. He sniffed, "Senior Sister's is still the best. It's even more fragrant than Wen Ning's."
"You're just sweet-talking." Jiang Yanli scooped out a bowl and handed it to him, "Be careful, it's hot."
Wei Wuxian took the bowl, blew on it, and took a long sip. The warm soup slid down his throat, and the familiar taste instantly hit him—exactly the same as what he had drunk at Lotus Pier sixteen years ago. His eyes welled up, and he quickly lowered his head, pretending to concentrate on the soup, but tears dripped into the bowl.
Jin Zixuan walked in and gently put his arm around Jiang Yanli's waist from behind: "Are you tired? Let me help you."
"I'm not tired, I'll be there soon." Jiang Yanli turned around and smiled at him, the tenderness in her eyes almost overflowing.
Jin Ling stood at the door, watching his parents' tacit interaction, and his heart suddenly warmed. He had always heard others say that his parents had a bad relationship and had been separated for many years, but now it seemed that was not the case at all.
At the dinner table, Jiang Yanli kept serving food to Jin Ling, piling his bowl up like a small mountain. "Eat more! You've lost weight."
Jin Zixuan also lowered his posture and taught Jin Ling how to cut the steak with a knife and fork, his movements patient and meticulous: "Take your time, don't rush."
Jin Ling nodded and stuffed food into his mouth, tears streaming down his face. For the first time, he realized how happy it felt to be loved like this by his parents.
Wei Wuxian watched this scene, then glanced at Jiang Cheng, whose eyes were slightly red, and suddenly felt at peace. Everything he had lost sixteen years ago was being made up for bit by bit in such a gentle way.
Jiang Yanli seemed to sense their emotions and raised her glass with a smile: "Come on, let's drink to our family reunion."
"cheers!"
The crisp sound of clinking glasses echoed, and sunlight streamed in through the carved wooden windows, falling on everyone's smiling faces. The director filming the scene, watching the joyful atmosphere captured on camera, suddenly felt that perhaps the most moving aspect of this variety show was its genuine emotions, unadulterated.
Only they themselves know how precious this meal is.
Those loved ones lost in another time and space, the missed companionship, and the regretful farewells all received the most gentle compensation in this modern afternoon.
Wei Wuxian took a big sip of soup and looked up at Jiang Yanli. She was listening to Jin Zixuan with a smile, her profile as soft as a painting in the sunlight.
That’s great, senior sister.
It’s great that we are still here.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
