At dusk.
Tang family.
With her brows furrowed and her head full of worries, Xu Shuyun returned home; as soon as she stepped in, she was greeted by Tang Chuan's excited questions.
"Mom? You're back!"
"Well? Did you see that poor girl? Did you rescue her by the way? And then give that hateful beast of a cousin a hard lesson?"
"......."
Hearing this, Xu Shuyun remained silent and gave no answer; she merely swept a glance at her son on the sofa, then let her complicated gaze fall on the girl beside him.......
The girl was in the flower of her youth, wearing a gorgeous set of hanfu whose style referenced traditional clothing of antiquity yet cleverly blended modern aesthetic elements.
The fabric was soft, delicate silk, embroidered with exquisite patterns of flowers and birds, each stroke lively and full of spirit.
For color, she chose a light, elegant pale blue, which displayed classical charm without losing modern freshness.
Her hair had been carefully coiffed into an ancient-style bun, dotted with a few dainty blossoms that complemented her hanfu.
On her earlobes hung a pair of classical jade earrings, crystal clear, perfectly matching the girl's temperament.
As for makeup, the girl still adhered to a light and elegant style, accentuating the contours of her eyes and making her appear even more gentle and full of charm.
A faint layer of lipstick was applied to her lips, the color just right to echo the aura of her ancient-style outfit.
At this moment, the girl blinked her innocent eyes and looked toward the just-entered Xu Shuyun.
She immediately covered her mouth with a soft laugh, happily stepped forward to greet her, and called out affectionately:
"Honored Mother, you're back!"
On the girl's feet was a pair of delicate embroidered shoes, the uppers stitched with floral and bird patterns that echoed her ancient costume.
When she walked, the embroidered shoes gently brushed against the floor, making a pleasant sound as if accompanying her steps with a melody.
At the same time, her entire body was suffused with a kind of aura called "frail and delicate," making one unable to resist the urge to pull her into their arms and tenderly protect her.
Overall, this modern girl in hanfu gave the feeling that Lin Daiyu herself had traveled to the present day.
Her attire was full of classical charm yet radiated the allure of a modern woman, giving people the illusion of having leapt through time and space, allowing one to feel the beauty of classical and modern fusion at a single glance.....
This person was "Tang Rou," the other "young lady" whose life was swapped eighteen years ago.
Because she usually loves wearing hanfu and carries an aura brimming with frailty, leaving an overall impression like the ancient Lin Daiyu, some busybodies in the Magic City nicknamed her "Little Lin Daiyu."
She minced her steps like a catwalk over to Xu Shuyun's side, and seeing that her expression was a bit off, couldn't help but ask with concern:
"What's wrong, Honored Mother? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing! Xiao Rou, did you just get back from the cosplay convention?"
"Mm, reporting to Honored Mother. I just returned!"
"......"
To cover up the unnaturalness on her face, Xu Shuyun quickly shifted the topic, and the mother and daughter chatted idly on and off.
For some reason.....
Ever since learning that Chu Ling was her biological daughter......
Her feeling when looking at Tang Rou no longer felt so inseparable and intimate.
Even the exclusive form of address she used to really enjoy hearing, "Honored Mother," now felt a bit affected and pretentious.
By contrast, back at the hospital..... Chu Ling's simple "Mom" instinctively brought Xu Shuyun joy.
Could this be the feeling of blood calling to blood???
But Xu Shuyun also knew that what happened back then had nothing to do with Tang Rou; at that time, she was merely an innocent infant.
The one at fault wasn't her, but her vicious parents!
And after raising her for so many years, and having always treated her with the mindset of a biological daughter, it was impossible to say there was no affection at all.....
'I hope that after Chu Ling comes home, she and Xiao Rou can become good sisters! May the two of them get along well!'
In her heart, Xu Shuyun imagined a picture of a reunited family.
Just then!
She suddenly recalled Lin Xuan's inner voice; he seemed to have said that after Chu Ling returned to the Tang family, she would be ostracized and end up miserably?!!
'If one had to say who at home most doesn't want Chu Ling to come back, fears her status will be threatened, and would thereby harm Chu Ling.....'
Xu Shuyun's brows knitted; out of the corner of her eye she suspiciously glanced at Tang Rou, who wore a pure smile beside her, lost in thought.
But she quickly denied that absurd notion in her heart.
Impossible, absolutely impossible!!!!!
Xiao Rou grew up under my watch, always virtuous and well-mannered, respectful to teachers and elders—how could she be unable to tolerate Chu Ling and persecute her???
Even back when she nearly suffered Lin Xuan's violation, she forced back her tears and kindly spoke up on his behalf.....
Such a gentle, kind daughter could never do something that harms others!
If Chu Ling really suffers harm, it must be for some other reason; it could even be that the little brat is just talking nonsense in his heart.....
After all, that inner voice of his can't yet be confirmed as one hundred percent true.....
Thinking of this, Xu Shuyun smacked her forehead; she almost forgot something.
After casually perfunctorily responding to Tang Chuan and the girl with a few words, she went "da-da-da" quickly upstairs, heading straight for the study......
......
Tang family living room.
"(???(??? ;) Huh? What's with Mom? Why so flustered—feels like something's off?"
Tang Chuan scratched his head, utterly baffled.
Beside him!
Tang Rou pressed a hand to her chest, a trace of indescribable melancholy appearing on her face.
Her eyes moistened, shimmering with crystalline tears that seemed they could spill at any moment.
Her lashes trembled gently like a butterfly's wings, carrying a hint of quiver and unease.
"Perhaps I somehow angered Honored Mother—she doesn't like me anymore. So, she left in a huff."
Tang Rou's pitiful, on-the-verge-of-tears look was like a sharp knife stabbing deep into Tang Chuan's heart, instantly making him ache for her o(╥﹏╥)o.
"Little sister, don't overthink it! How could Mom not like you?"
"She's just hit menopause and her mood's unstable, um... you know! (gradually whispering~~~~)"
"......."
While comforting his sister, Tang Chuan guiltily glanced toward the stairs, afraid Xu Shuyun would suddenly return.
(?"? ?)?"(???︿???).
"All right! Sis, don't be sad! Seeing you like this; Third Brother's heart is breaking~~~"
"Didn't you say last time you fancied that new Louis Vuitton handbag from France? And a Gucci watch made in Italy, as well as Chanel, Hermès......."
"How about I buy them all for you in the next couple of days? As long as you're not sad anymore, third brother will grant all your wishes."
"......."
At last, under Tang Chuan's tireless financial comfort, Tang Rou smiled through her tears.
She grabbed onto Tang Chuan's arm and praised him sweetly:
"Elder Brother is the best! I like Elder Brother the most!"
"For real, for real? Compared with Big Brother and the others, is it Third Brother you like the most, Xiao Rou?"
Basked in his little sister's flattery, Tang Chuan beamed, grinning from ear to ear.
At this moment, as if thinking of something, a shadow flitted through Tang Rou's eyes.
She tentatively asked:
"Mm? That depends on whether Elder Brother's concern is reserved for me alone, or something everyone gets."
"If it's not just for me alone, then I don't want that kind of concern!"
"Otherwise, if some other fun little sister shows up in the future and Elder Brother stops paying attention to me, I'll only be even more heartbroken."
"......."
Hearing this,
Tang Chuan thumped his chest with repeated assurances:
"What are you saying, Xiao Rou? Third Brother has only one little sister—if I don't dote on you, who would I dote on?"
"No matter how good other sisters are, they're someone else's; naturally I'll only be good to my own!"
"Speaking of which, it was Third Brother who failed to protect you back then and almost let you be harmed by that beast of a cousin...."
"Ahh! It's such a painful memory! Every time I think about it, I feel I've let you down......"
"........"
Tang Chuan's eyes reddened, and his gaze at his little sister was full of guilt.
Back when he learned Auntie had passed unexpectedly, he sympathized deeply with his helpless cousin and often wanted to care for and help him.
Even when his little sister said Lin Xuan's gaze on her felt wrong, he still comforted her that she must have misunderstood; Cousin had just suffered the pain of losing a loved one—how could he have the mind to think of those filthy things?
Who would have thought.....
That because of his trust, he had almost put his little sister in danger—this was the lifelong pain in Tang Chuan's heart.
.......
"Third Brother, that matter back then wasn't your fault. And it's been years; I've already forgotten it. Why keep holding onto it?!"
"Cousin was also young and hot-blooded then, which is why he coveted my beauty and, failing to control his lower body, took the wrong path for a moment."
"But to err is human; I forgave him long ago....."
"I heard he hasn't been doing well lately! Why don't we find a time to go visit him?"
"......."
Listening to Tang Rou's gentle words, Tang Chuan's eyes reddened even more; in his heart he exclaimed: just where did my sister come from, this little angel?!
???( ˊ?ˋ )???.
Not only did she not blame him, she easily forgave even that scoundrel in gentleman's clothing who hurt her so deeply......
And she was worried about his livelihood on top of that?!
Sob sob sob.....
My little sister is so kind and so pure.....
With such a sister, I have to protect her well, and absolutely cannot let her suffer even the slightest harm.....
Just as Tang Chuan's eyes filled with tears and he silently made his resolve......
On the second floor, in the clean and tidy study.
Xu Shuyun sat at a computer desk; seeing the screen prompt for a boot password, she unhesitatingly typed:
[20240214].
In no time, the computer successfully booted.
Staring at the opened desktop, Xu Shuyun looked shocked and murmured to herself.
"The password really works—just what kind of being is that nephew of mine....."
Then she moved the mouse and opened, one by one, several desktop folders respectively titled [Couples Self-shot], [Domestic Section], [Wives & Girlfriends], [SM Section], [Fruit Pie], etc.
Two and a half minutes later, Xu Shuyun, her face flushed, exited the viewing screen.
"Hmph! That improper old coot actually likes these pervy kinks....."