Chapter 66

The Old Master glanced up at the housekeeper waiting by the meeting room door. The housekeeper gave a slight nod. Everything was under control. The Old Master acknowledged it with a faint nod.

Li Yuanxi, supporting Wei Shu, was led by a staff member into the meeting room. A dozen or so people were already seated inside, a mix of police and airline representatives.

“First, let’s welcome you both home.” The president of the airline rose to his feet, applauding. The others joined in, a warm welcome.

“And we are deeply sorry for all you’ve endured.” With those words, the entire airline contingent bowed in unison.

Li Yuanxi and Wei Shu said nothing. They simply sat in their chairs, waiting to see what would come next.

The airline president didn’t seem fazed by the slight. His face remained heavy with guilt and regret. What followed was a series of questions, gentle and considerate.

“Did you see or hear anything unusual on board the plane?” This was the question the international and local police were most eager to ask.

“I didn’t hear anything. Everyone was sleeping. It was a long flight, and everyone was resting,” Li Yuanxi replied honestly.

Wei Shu nodded in agreement. But the mere mention of the crash made her tremble. Li Yuanxi reached out and took her hand.

“Could you tell us again how you survived?” Another police officer, a female alpha, looked at her notes and began asking questions again.

The head of the Wei Group’s legal department gave a friendly smile. “Recalling the crash repeatedly is traumatic for my clients. Could we please take a break so they can have some water?”

The officer looked at the two pale faces, especially Wei Shu’s, whose pregnant state was clearly fragile. They had no choice but to stop.

“Don’t worry. The legal department of the Wei family doesn’t joke around,” the Old Master reassured the couple, who were visibly worried. Li Zheng and Lu Wan nodded, but their concern was plain.

“This is their trauma. To keep bringing it up… are Shu Shu and Chuyi strong enough to handle that? It was a terrifying event,” Lu Wan said, her heart aching for the two girls.

The Old Master furrowed his brow. He thought for a long moment. “They have to go through this. They are the only survivors.”

“Instead of worrying about that, why not ask if your Chuyi is going home with Shu Shu tonight?” The Old Master was reminded of how utterly dependent his daughter was on Li Yuanxi, and his head began to throb.

“Huh?” Lu Wan and Li Zheng were a bit stunned. The topic jump was a little disorienting.

“What? You don’t want to?” The Old Master looked at them questioningly.

“Of course we do, it’s just…” Li Zheng glanced at his wife, who was thinking the same thing. For the sake of Chuyi’s happiness, he decided to take a leap. “Can we just… all three of us go too?”

The Old Master was silent for a long moment. “…Come along then.”

He couldn’t just steal their precious daughter, whom they had nearly lost, for himself. That would be too cruel.

Li Zheng and Lu Wan breathed a sigh of relief, overjoyed. They had learned that Shu Shu lived on a separate floor of a small villa. It would be almost like living together, a family of five.

Lu Wan thought of how carrying a baby must be terribly hard for Shu Shu, especially after a long period of poor nutrition. They had to follow the doctor’s advice and help her get proper nourishment.

Li Zheng, on the other hand, was thinking that his daughter had come back, settled her marriage in one fell swoop, and now had a child on the way. Wasn’t this a great blessing for the Li family?

For once, the Li family ancestors had come through! He would go burn incense and offer sacrifices. He’d even light some incense for that early-to-die old man.

Li Zheng and Lu Wan still felt like they were dreaming. They kept fearing they would wake up and their daughter would be gone. So, in this ‘dream’, they would do whatever they wanted.

They had to win over their future in-laws so their daughter could marry early and have a happy family. Then, even if the dream ended… No, it wouldn’t end. Lu Wan held onto that belief.

The Old Master watched the two of them, their expressions shifting through a whole range of human emotions. He liked their company. Their recent interactions had changed his impression of the couple.

He remembered the joint ‘funeral’ they had held for the two girls. He had thought, since the families lived so close, and Shu Shu was willing to play with that girl Li, at least they’d have each other’s company in the afterlife.

Then, suddenly, they were both back. The Old Master lowered his head and let out a small laugh, tears dropping onto the back of his hand. They were back. He hadn’t had to bury a child.

But they had come back with such a “surprise”. After a day of processing it all, Wei Cheng had calmed down. Li Yuanxi was a good kid. A very good kid.

Wei Cheng admired an Alpha like that, someone willing to risk their life to protect another at a critical moment. Even under Shu Shu’s deliberate provocations, she had always kept a proper mindset.

Wei Cheng had spoken with Wei Shu several times. She had told him about the small moments of her life with Li Yuanxi. Beyond the surface, he could see that Li Yuanxi was always trying to prevent anything bad from happening.

“It was me who made the first move.” Wei Shu’s face flushed as she confessed this to her father.

“I went into heat. And you know, without a suppressant, heat can be fatal. She doesn’t have her own pheromones. I had to bite —” She corrected herself. “— I had to chew through her pheromone gland to get some relief. Otherwise, that heat would have killed me.”

Wei Cheng looked at the shy but happy smile on his daughter’s face, and the knot in his heart loosened. He asked a question that had been puzzling him. “If she’s so good, why were you two always at each other’s throats before?”

“That’s all that idiot’s fault for being so dense.” Wei Shu’s retort was affectionate.

Whatever. Let the young ones sort out their own affairs. This old father was just going to enjoy his grandchild soon.

“We’ve asked everything we need for now. We might be in touch again. Once more, welcome home.” The police officer in charge of the investigation shook hands with Li Yuanxi and Wei Shu before leaving.

The doors of the meeting room, which had been closed for hours, swung open, startling the two fathers from their pleasant daydreaming about the future.

Lu Wan immediately stood up, wringing her hands as she stared at the room. The moment Li Yuanxi stepped out, Lu Wan grabbed her hand tightly, leaving Li Zheng to follow behind.

“How was it?” The Old Master took his daughter’s hand, his voice soft, as he glanced at the lawyer following behind. The lawyer gave a nod, and he relaxed.

He had arranged for a team of lawyers for both of his girls, with identical configurations, just in case they were questioned separately.

The airline wasn’t likely to do anything underhanded, but to be safe, the Old Master had made many preparations ahead of time, keeping every situation under his control.

“Alright. Let’s go home. The whole family is together again. Time for a reunion dinner.” The Old Master looked at his two complete children, his heart full. Except for Li Yuanxi being so dark that you couldn’t see her features.

On hearing this, Li Yuanxi squeezed Wei Shu’s hand, her gaze hesitant. She didn’t want to be separated from her.

“Let’s go.” Without noticing their silent communication, the Old Master led them out through a secure passage, leaving the lawyers behind for the press conference.

Even after getting into the car, Li Yuanxi and Wei Shu were still sitting together. No one mentioned separating them. The truth was, both families wanted to take their own child home, but they were also worried about the girls not adjusting.

“Where are we going?” Wei Shu whispered to Li Yuanxi. “Anywhere, as long as we’re together.” Li Yuanxi whispered back, leaning in.

They were trying to be quiet, but everyone in the van heard them. The nanny van was just big enough for the whole family. Everyone had the unspoken understanding to let the young couple talk.

Wei Yi occasionally caught a reflection of Wei Shu in the car’s shiny surface. He thought that, maybe now, the hole in his heart could finally be filled.

He relaxed his brow, showing a smile like his sister’s. They both had tiny dimples that only appeared when they smiled softly.

Li Zheng and Lu Wan had mentally prepared themselves to go to the Wei family home for dinner and ask to stay the night. But the van stopped in their own neighborhood.

Li Zheng looked at the Old Master in surprise. “What are you looking at?” The Old Master gave him a dismissive glance. “I bought the house yesterday. I’m staying there tonight. What’s the problem?”

Li Zheng didn’t know what to say, so he just gave him a thumbs up. “Our families are only about a dozen meters apart. If we open the back gardens, we can visit each other easily.” The Old Master’s lips curled into a slight smile.

Getting out of the car, Li Yuanxi looked at the familiar surroundings: the beautiful house, the neat little garden, the familiar Aunt Li and the housekeeper. Yet, she felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.

In the past, no matter how long she had been away, coming home always felt cozy and warm. This time, there was a hint of estrangement.

Wei Shu tugged her hand. “Come on, let’s go home.” Li Yuanxi snapped out of it and nodded. They reached the front door and hesitated. Which way were they supposed to go?

“What are you waiting for? Come on in.” The Old Master, hands clasped behind his back, looked at them. Li Yuanxi’s eyes lit up. She leaned close to Wei Shu. “We’re so close. I’ll come over to sleep with you tonight.”

“Good. But this time, use the front door.” Wei Shu pinched Li Yuanxi’s earlobe in a final warning. Li Yuanxi quickly nodded.

This was Wei Shu’s first time in this new house. Seeing her usually stern father sitting at the dining table waiting for them, she was touched. Everything he did was for her.

“Dad accepts you. So don’t you worry anymore.” Wei Shu looked tenderly at Li Yuanxi. Li Yuanxi squeezed her hand and whispered, “I figured that out. Otherwise, how could I be living next door to you?”

At the table, the Old Master raised a glass of juice. He looked at Li Yuanxi and Wei Shu, toasting them. “This glass is for Xiao Shu and Chuyi… for coming home. For coming back to our arms. I hope that for the rest of your lives, both of you stay healthy. And always, always safe.”

Everyone raised their glasses and said in unison, “To your health. To your eternal safety.”

The two, deeply moved, drank the juice. The food on the table was light and delicious. “This is good.” Li Yuanxi bit into a succulent chicken leg and immediately put a piece on Wei Shu’s plate.

Wei Zheng and Wei Xin, not to be outdone, also served their little sister food, determined to show her their love. The table was filled with laughter, as if they were already one big family. Everyone was talking about happy things.

Li Yuanxi and Wei Shu could feel the relaxed joy. They relaxed too.

That night, after her bath, Wei Shu sat on her bed, looking at the familiar decorations. Even the shape of the windows was the same as her old home.

But it didn’t feel the same. She didn’t feel that sense of belonging. Wei Shu’s eyes dropped. She stroked her belly and looked at the villa across the way. She made a bold decision.

She went to the living room, where her siblings and father were still awake. Wei Zheng stood, thinking she needed something. She walked over and helped Wei Shu to the sofa. “What’s wrong? Thirsty?”

Before she could even offer, a cup of water appeared at Wei Shu’s hand. “Thanks, Big Brother.” Wei Shu smiled at Wei Yi and took a slow sip.

When she finished, she looked up to find her siblings and father all staring at her. She swallowed the water in her mouth. “Is something wrong?”

“No. We just want to look at you.” They all waved their hands in unison to explain. Wei Shu sighed helplessly, offering them reassurance once more. “Now, you can see me all the time. I’m always going to be nearby.”

“Mhm.” Wei Jing nodded. It was fair to say that among all those present, she was the one who understood Wei Shu best. To be coming down at this hour, it wasn’t for water. It was to go to her Alpha.

Wei Jing gave her a subtle look. Wei Shu tapped her finger on the sofa, and Wei Jing caught the signal. A gleam of excitement flashed in her eyes; she was totally living for this drama.

“Alright, you two, stop communicating with your eyes. Do you think we’re blind?” Wei Yi was resigned. Did his sisters think he couldn’t see them?

Wei Shu hesitated for a moment, then looked at her resigned older brother and told him her thoughts. “I want to go see Chuyi. It’s… a little hard to fall asleep here.”

Half an hour later, the entire Wei family was knocking on the Li family’s door. The housekeeper opened it and quickly ushered them inside.

Li Yuanxi, fresh from a comfortable shower and in a cozy robe, had been eagerly knocking on her parents’ door, discussing the idea of not sleeping at home tonight.

That was when Wei Shu arrived. Li Zheng got the call from the housekeeper and rushed the whole family downstairs.

“Shu Shu! Why are you here? Are you sleepy? I’ll take you to bed right now.” Li Yuanxi flew down the stairs.

All Wei Shu saw was a flash of white pajamas coming her way.

Under the warm, yellow light, Li Yuanxi was practically invisible. The Old Master looked at the girl, who was so dark she blended into the shadows. He paused for a beat, then turned to Wei Zheng. “Increase Chuyi’s shareholding by another 2%.”

Wei Zheng nodded in profound agreement. “That kid has really been through the wringer. Finding food wasn’t easy.”

“I couldn’t sleep at the house. I want to sleep with you.” Wei Shu closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Li Yuanxi’s waist. She felt her warmth and her familiar scent. She nuzzled against her shoulder, full of contentment.

“Chuyi, I have a lot of whitening formulas. I’ll bring them to you tomorrow. Don’t worry, you’ll be white again.” Wei Jing gave her a thorough once-over before committing to sharing her beauty secrets.

Li Zheng and Lu Wan realized that the sight of their daughter in her pajamas was more effective than a thousand words of explanation. Their hearts ached. They had already applied several whitening face masks, but it seemed they hadn’t worked.

“Dark? I don’t think she’s dark. My Chuyi is very fair.” Wei Shu didn’t agree at all. She reached out to touch Li Yuanxi’s smooth skin, her white teeth, her clear, beautiful tea-colored eyes. She loved all of it.

“Make an appointment for your sister with an ophthalmologist,” Old Master Wei whispered to Wei Zheng, then turned and said loudly, “Yes, where is she dark? That’s a very healthy complexion. An Alpha should have a complexion like that. Well done, Chuyi.”

Li Yuanxi looked at her suddenly congenial father-in-law in confusion. She didn’t get it, but she puffed out her chest with pride, thoroughly delighted to accept the compliment.

Wei Shu was satisfied. Ignoring everyone, she kissed Li Yuanxi on the lips. She had been missing this all day.

Li Yuanxi’s face was so red that no one could tell, but she held Wei Shu close and wouldn’t let her go. Everyone else just pretended not to see.

Wei Cheng felt a twinge of bitterness in his heart, but he had already brought Shu Shu here. He couldn’t hold onto her anymore. As long as Shu Shu was happy, he was happy.

Wei Zheng, however, had a different reaction. She coughed loudly, for a long time, until the lovestruck pair separated, but didn’t.

“Second Sister, stop coughing. They are fiancées. It’s perfectly acceptable. If you don’t like watching, just go and find your wife and kiss her. You’ll feel better.” Wei Jing’s blunt remark left Wei Zheng coughing no more.

“It’s past ten. I’m going to take Shu Shu to rest. Uncle, everyone, please make yourselves at home with my parents.” Li Yuanxi led Wei Shu carefully up the stairs.

“Mhm.” Wei Cheng hummed. Before he could say another word, Li Zheng was frowning. “We should install an elevator in this house.” Wei Cheng nodded, and they started discussing elevators.

The moment they were back in the bedroom, Wei Shu couldn’t wait anymore. She wrapped her arms around Li Yuanxi’s neck, and their lips met in a kiss that quickly turned passionate.

The room was filled with Li Yuanxi’s pheromones, and Wei Shu could feel herself relaxing. Li Yuanxi lifted her and carried her to the bed. She gently set her down and broke the kiss.

Wei Shu held onto her neck, slowly catching her breath. She looked around the room, surrounded by Li Yuanxi’s things. Relaxing against her, she murmured, “Is this your bedroom? It’s so comfortable.”

“It’s your bedroom too. You can change anything you want.” Li Yuanxi leaned in and kissed her red lips again. Wei Shu nodded and let go of her hand to look around the room.

“Don’t worry. The only other person who has been in my room is my mother. No one else has ever come in.” Li Yuanxi whispered in her ear. Wei Shu gave a satisfied hum. She could trust her.

She walked over to a desk. There were pictures of her and Li Yuanxi as children, and a collection album on the desk.

Li Yuanxi had forgotten that was there. She opened it, and it was full of photos of Wei Shu from various events. All taken without her knowledge.

Seeing the album made Li Yuanxi blush. She gave an awkward smile, trying to change the subject. “Uh, it’s getting late. Let’s go to sleep!” She tried to close the album.

“Not so fast.” Wei Shu gently held her hand back. She opened the album herself. Next to every group photo of them, there was a new picture of Li Yuanxi, taken at an angle that made it look like they were looking at each other.

“How much effort did you put into this? If you wanted a picture with me, you could have just asked. You’d have more than this.” Wei Shu slowly turned the pages, her fingers tracing Li Yuanxi’s image.

“Back then, you never talked to me. This was all I could do.” Li Yuanxi bit Wei Shu’s earlobe in a playful, possessive nibble. Wei Shu’s breath hitched, her body weakening. Li Yuanxi pulled her in, gently rubbing her waist.

“Was it my fault? You were always so sarcastic. Could I help it?” Wei Shu turned her head, breathing heavily as she closed the distance between them. They held each other tightly, saying nothing. Their actions were enough.