Really, he wouldn’t abandon her?
It should be true—he had already let go of Shu Yu. She would leave him without hesitation, never looking back.
But Shu Yu did look back.
Shu Yu: "I had reasons I couldn’t tell you for leaving. Do you believe me?"
Si Yiheng gently brushed away the tears from the corner of Shu Yu’s eye with his fingertip. "I believe you."
"I believe you."
Shu Yu looked at Si Yiheng’s wet, reddened eyes. "Si Yiheng, I knew you’d be hiding somewhere crying."
"You’re such a crybaby now."
Si Yiheng lowered his head, his nose brushing against hers. "I won’t be anymore."
As long as Shu Yu still loved him, as long as she still wanted him.
Nothing could make him lose control like this again.
Shu Yu blinked slowly. "Mm."
When Song Wenzhao saw Shu Yu and Si Yiheng holding hands, his first instinct was to roll his eyes at Si Yiheng.
But one look at Shu Yu made him swallow the impulse.
He forced a stiff smile instead.
Shu Yu: "Big Brother, I’m back."
Si Yiheng quietly stayed by Shu Yu’s side. "Big Brother."
Song Wenzhao’s voice was tight. "Let’s go."
On the plane, Song Wenzhao watched his well-behaved little sister, her eyes rimmed red, and Si Yiheng with eyes just as red.
Song Wenzhao fell silent.
Would their family of five end up with three people who cried easily?
If something happened, they’d just sit together and shed tears.
It was fine if Shu Yu cried, but seeing Si Yiheng and Song Xuyan cry? That just didn’t sit right.
Though losing Shu Yu had "cured" Song Xuyan in a way.
Well, not really cured.
It just meant Song Xuyan would hide to cry now.
Before, Song Xuyan’s tears were a form of flirtation.
When Shu Yu was lost, their mom’s mood had been terrible. If Song Xuyan cried in front of her, it would only make things harder.
After all, Baby Yu and Song Xuyan were both crybabies.
For a while, their mom hadn’t even wanted to see Song Xuyan.
Once Baby Yu was lost, none of them could ever go back.
Song Wenzhao wondered if Shu Yu’s return would make Song Xuyan start crying again.
He was a man in his forties—wouldn’t crying be a bit inappropriate now?
Their mom should be much better; ever since she learned they’d found Baby Yu, she’d started living more positively.
She’d been sending lots of photos of Little Orange to him, asking him to show them to Baby Yu.
Looking at his little sister, sitting obediently across from him, Song Wenzhao smiled.
His lovely sister sat so properly, like a primary school student.
He glanced at Si Yiheng beside her. Si Yiheng met his gaze, a smile on his lips.
Song Wenzhao: "..."
Taunting!!!
Still, they were just holding hands quietly. Otherwise, he really would have been tempted to kick Si Yiheng off the plane.
Song Wenzhao messaged Shu Yu.
Song Wenzhao: Little Treasure, did you notice Si Yiheng was taunting me?
LittleFishSwimming: ?
Shu Yu secretly glanced at Si Yiheng and saw the grin on his face was harder to suppress than an AK’s recoil.
Shu Yu couldn’t help but smile too.
LittleFishSwimming: Big Brother, is it possible Si Yiheng is just in a good mood?
Song Wenzhao: Oh.
Song Wenzhao: He seemed to be rolling his eyes at me.
Shu Yu had just finished reading Song Wenzhao’s message when she got one from Si Yiheng.
ATM: Baby, Big Brother seems to dislike me—he rolled his eyes at me.
Shu Yu: "..."
ATM: Big Brother is mocking me.
Shu Yu: "..."
Shu Yu pressed her lips together.
Two childish idiots, both coming to her to tattle.
Shu Yu typed furiously.
To Song Wenzhao:
LittleFishSwimming: Big Brother, no, Si Yiheng didn’t roll his eyes at you. His eyes just hurt.
To Si Yiheng:
LittleFishSwimming: Bro, Big Brother didn’t mock you. He’s just naturally smiley.
Throughout the trip, Shu Yu typed nonstop, juggling the two of them.
She felt like she was going to get tendonitis.
Luckily, the plane landed at an overseas estate.
Shu Yu finally stopped her peacekeeping.
When Shu Yu got off the plane, she spotted Ji Fei and Song Xuyan. They saw her in the same moment.
Tears instantly streamed from Song Xuyan’s eyes.
Ji Fei’s eyes welled up too.
"Baby Yu."
Shu Yu didn’t hesitate—she threw herself into Ji Fei’s arms. "Mom."
"Dad."
Held by her soft daughter, Ji Fei could hardly believe Shu Yu wasn’t distant with her.
But she wasn’t.
"Little Treasure."
A mother’s embrace was warm and gentle. Shu Yu snuggled into Ji Fei’s neck. "Mom, I missed you so much."
Ji Fei stroked Shu Yu’s fuzzy head. "Mom has too..."
Ji Fei’s voice choked up. "She really has."
Song Xuyan stood by, watching for a long time. "Only missing Mom?"
Ji Fei and Shu Yu both looked up to see Song Xuyan, on the verge of tears and looking aggrieved.
Ji Fei: "..."
Shu Yu tilted her porcelain-white face and smiled. "I missed Dad too."
Song Wenzhao rubbed his forehead. He knew it.
He said bluntly, "Dad, stop crying. Crying, crying, crying—do you think you’re a teenager still? Get a job if you’re bored."
Shu Yu blinked softly, holding back her own tears, and covertly watched Song Wenzhao.
If he was scolding Dad, he wouldn’t scold her, right?
Song Xuyan: "..."
Song Xuyan’s face turned cold, refusing to look at that brat Song Wenzhao.
Ji Fei, eyes glistening, looked from Song Wenzhao to her youngest daughter.
Little Treasure really was still the same as she was as a child—a crybaby, a bit timid, always making Dad take the blame.
Back then, Shu Yu would always ask Song Xuyan for candy. When the wrappers were found, she’d drag him into it.
Pointing at Song Xuyan, she’d say to Ji Fei, "Scold Dad."
"Don’t scold baby."
After Ji Fei scolded Song Xuyan and he launched into a dramatic act, Shu Yu would hug his neck and say, "Love Dad."
That was how she soothed her father’s wounded heart after he took the fall.
Ji Fei lovingly stroked Shu Yu’s head.
Shu Yu gave Ji Fei an adorable smile.
Si Yiheng stood in the corner, watching Shu Yu return to her family, watching the smile on her face. His lips curved up too.
Shu Yu remembered she’d brought Si Yiheng along and yanked him into the circle.
"Mom, this is Si Yiheng."
"He’s the one I love."
Si Yiheng was momentarily stunned. Shu Yu had pulled him into her happiness and warmth.
After a brief pause, he immediately spoke politely, "Hello, Auntie and Uncle."
As soon as he finished, he felt Song Xuyan’s scrutinizing gaze.
Ji Fei smiled. "Xiaoheng, hello."
After the meeting, the family went home together.
That night, Shu Yu curled up in Ji Fei’s soft, fragrant embrace.
Shu Yu: "Mom."
Ji Fei responded for the countless time that day. "Yes, what is it, Little Treasure?"
Shu Yu hugged Ji Fei, tears streaming down. "I missed Mom so much."
This was her mother—someone who always answered when called.
Her real mother.
"You little crybaby," Ji Fei said, wiping Shu Yu’s tears, her own heart aching.
She didn’t know how much her daughter had suffered out there.
Shu Yu fell asleep peacefully in Ji Fei’s arms, as if she were a little girl again, clutching her mother’s clothes as she drifted off.
When she woke, the morning light was bright outside.
Iron Egg, who hadn’t had a chance to speak all day yesterday, finally spoke up. [Baby Yu, good morning.]
Shu Yu buried her face in the pillow. "Iron Egg, morning ruined."
Shu Yu: "Iron Egg, we need to talk about System 001."
Until yesterday, she hadn't had time to deal with this matter anymore.
Iron Egg: [System 001 has been detained. It will most likely be destroyed by the department. I'll push for it to be done as soon as possible.]
After all, this was already a major incident.
It couldn't afford to leave System 001 as a potential threat.
What if System 001 tried to get revenge on it and Shu Yu?
System 001 had to be destroyed.
Shu Yu had no objections to this punishment either.
Iron Egg: [The department will also compensate for the oversight—probably money or a house.]
Shu Yu: "I don't want those."
Iron Egg: [Then what do you want?]
Shu Yu: "Iron Egg, if it weren't for System 001's mistake, I wouldn't have left Dad, Mom, and Zhaozhao. I wouldn't be lacking the houses or money the system gave as rewards."
She would have grown up surrounded by her parents' love.
Shu Yu: "I want my restrictions lifted—at least let me tell Si Yiheng about the mission."
Iron Egg fell silent. [That won't be easy.]
Shu Yu's tone was serious. "But there shouldn't have been misunderstandings between Si Yiheng and me. It was System 001's fault, and the department's oversight too. This is only fair compensation."
Iron Egg: [Alright, I'll try.]
Iron Egg: [It might take some time, Baby Yu. Wait for me to come back.]
News of the Song family finding their long-lost daughter quickly spread through social circles.
Although the eldest Miss Song hadn't appeared in public yet, everyone knew the Song family treasured their newly found daughter.
The day Shu Yu returned, Song Xuyan transferred all his shares to her.
Shu Yu's stake in the Song Corporation reached forty percent.
Some said this eldest daughter had come back aggressively, ready to seize Song Wenzhao's position.
After all, even Song Wenzhao didn't hold as many shares as Shu Yu.
Others tried to track Shu Yu's whereabouts, inviting her to gatherings, hoping to hitch a ride to success through the Song family's precious jewel.
Song Wenzhao went back to work at the company, where many people came by to inquire about marriage alliances.
Song Wenzhao had a bad look on his face the entire day.
Did these people even look at themselves? Were they worthy of her?
Didn't they have a mirror—or at least a puddle—to see their own sorry state?
A bunch of toads!
And as for marrying into the family, did they think there was no threshold for that?
Some people thought they couldn't find partners just because they refused to marry into the family, right?
Hmph.
Song Wenzhao came home.
He saw Shu Yu and Si Yiheng sitting in the garden, swinging on the swing, and got even angrier.
Why did he have to work all day dealing with all kinds of loons while Si Yiheng got to swing with Shu Yu?
He wanted to swing too.
Song Wenzhao: "Baby Yu, Big Brother will push you."
Si Yiheng: "..."
Si Yiheng had no choice but to step aside, standing nearby with a cold expression.
Shu Yu glanced secretly at Si Yiheng. "Big Brother, push me higher."
Song Wenzhao: "Alright, hold on tight."
Not far away, Ji Fei and Song Xuyan sat together. Ji Fei had a smile on her face as she watched the three kids.
Song Xuyan fed Ji Fei grapes every now and then.
Song Xuyan pointed at the three of them. "Happy, happy, very unhappy."
Si Yiheng was the very unhappy one.
Ji Fei leaned into Song Xuyan's arms. "Dabao acts like a clueless third wheel."
"Little Treasure is teasing Xiaoheng again. Look at her—she's sneaked more than a few glances at him."
"Xiaoheng's lips are clearly curling up, but he's pretending to be upset when he catches Little Treasure looking at him."
