Chapter Fifty-Four: Reunion
“Xiao Zheng, you’re finally back.” Shao Suya came running and hugged Leng Zheng tightly. “Ah, I missed you so much.”
“Godmother, I missed you too.” Leng Zheng returned the embrace.
“Come on, let’s get inside—the weather’s cold out here.” Shao Suya led Leng Zheng quickly into the house.
Qin Cheng brought the two children inside as well.
None of them noticed the person lingering behind, secretly watching them. More precisely, his gaze was fixed on Leng Zheng.
…
“So these are my two little granddaughters and grandson, right?” Shao Suya beamed as she looked at the children—one a miniature version of Leng Zheng, the other a miniature Cheng Yunting.
“Who else could they be?” Leng Zheng nodded. “I can only say the genes are strong.”
“Come here, Anxin, Yiting, let Grandma have a good look at you.” She smiled at the two little ones.
“Anxin, Yiting, come on, greet your grandparents,” Leng Zheng prompted.
Cheng Changfeng, suddenly addressed, straightened his back as he looked at his grandchildren.
“Hello, Grandpa. Hello, Grandma.” The two children said in unison.
“My dear granddaughter and grandson!” Shao Suya smiled, gently patting their heads, then produced two red envelopes. “Here, one for each of you.”
“Thank you, Grandma.”
…
While the adults chatted, the two children played quietly with their toys, the warmth of family filling the room. Yet outside, someone lingered at the door, an outsider to this happiness.
Cheng Yunting hadn’t been home in a long while. Ever since Leng Zheng had left, he only returned during the holidays, spending the rest of his time absorbed in work.
He didn’t dare approach; he only watched Leng Zheng and the two children from afar.
…
“Speaking of my unreliable son—ever since you went to S City, apart from the holidays, he hardly ever comes home. Sometimes not even then.” Shao Suya shook her head and sighed.
Leng Zheng lowered her head. She, too, longed to see him, to let her children meet their father, to show Cheng Yunting that the life he once dreamed of had truly come to pass…
But her heart could not let go of the knot inside. Even though she now knew the truth, she still couldn’t move past it.
“Mom, Dad.” At that moment, Cheng Yunting entered, his gaze lingering on Leng Zheng, lost in thought.
“It’s rare for you to come home,” Shao Suya remarked, sparing him a glance, her eyes flicking to Leng Zheng to observe her reaction.
Cheng Yunting looked at Leng Zheng, his desire to embrace her overwhelming. He wanted her to be his, always. But reason told him he couldn’t.
“Hmm.” Cheng Changfeng nodded, his own eyes studying his son’s expression.
“Mom, who is that man? Is he my dad?” Qin Anxin tilted her head and ran up to Leng Zheng.
Leng Zheng lowered her head and nodded. “Yes, he’s your father—and your brother’s father, too.”
“Mom, why are you crying?” Qin Anxin hugged her mother, climbed into her lap, and gently wiped away her tears. “Don’t cry, Mommy.”
“Alright, Mommy won’t cry.” Leng Zheng smiled and nodded. “Mommy wants to lie down for a while. Will you be good and stay here?”
“Okay.”
“Godmother, I’m going to rest a bit.”
“Go ahead,” Shao Suya replied.
Leng Zheng went upstairs to her old room in the Cheng family home. Cheng Yunting stood there, suddenly flustered.
“Aren’t you going to check on Xiao Zheng?” Shao Suya looked helplessly at her oblivious son.
“Okay.” Cheng Yunting nodded, then hurried upstairs.
(Leng Zheng and Cheng Yunting do have feelings for each other, but both are reserved and rarely voice what’s in their hearts—they simply act in silence. Perhaps by tomorrow, they’ll have reconciled, starting first as friends, and then, everything else will fall into place.)