He stepped forward to hold Mrs. Han’s hand, "Allow me to assist you!"
Mrs. Han’s eyes crinkled into a smile, her heart filled with joy, "You child, who teases their own mother ?"
"Mother, please don’t say that. When you go out and sit down, instead of looking like someone with children, others might think you’re a newlywed young mistress!"
"You child, your words are becoming more and more far-fetched!"
Mrs. Han expressed mild annoyance with her words but wasn’t truly annoyed at heart.
One’s own child is always pampered a bit too much, and indulged a little too deeply.
"Let’s all come and eat!" Han Xuzi said with a smile.
It had been so many years, and it was rare for this home to be filled with such comforting laughter.
"Yes, Father (Grandfather)!"
The family of four sat together. Han Xuzi personally poured the wine, and even Tianci got some, "Our Tianci is also a man now, let’s have a bit too!"
With a smile, Han Tianci said, "Thank you, Grandfather!"
Raising his cup toward Han Xuzi, "Grandfather, to you!"
"Good, good!" Han Xuzi held up his cup and drank all the wine in it in one go.
His heart was a mix of many feelings.
Then Han Tianci turned his smile to Mrs. Han, "Mother, thank you for giving birth to me. Today, I also offer you a toast!"
Mrs. Han was somewhat flattered and hurriedly raised her glass, "Tianci..."
With a smile brimming with warmth, Han Tianci watched Mrs. Han drink down the wine, and then turned to Yun Jinnian, "Sister..."
This was his most beloved and most respected sister.
She had suffered so much injustice and been through so much sorrow, yet she never held resentment against anyone.
She never thought of seeking revenge actively.
She had paved a smooth and broad road for him to walk on for the rest of his life.
Thinking of this, Han Tianci’s eyes reddened slightly.
Yun Jinnian stood up with her glass and looked at Han Tianci with a light smile, "Whatever you want to say, sister understands. We are true siblings!"
This life is all we have, with no next life guaranteed.
She was fortunate to have this life, but it might not be the case in the next, so she intended to treat Tianci as well as she could.
"Hehe, what Sister said is true. To you, Sister!"
In his "to you," there was so much wealth of feeling.
"Alright, let’s drink this glass together, siblings!"
After a satisfying meal and drink, they had originally planned to go to the warm hall for a chat, but Han Xuzi, thinking they hadn’t had a proper sleep through this journey, suggested everyone go to their rooms to sleep; any conversation could wait until tomorrow.
Yun Jinnian returned to the Chaoyang Academy.
She went to bed and fell asleep.
As Han Tianci lay on the bed, he exhaled deeply and closed his eyes.
He felt grateful that another day had passed. How wonderful!
He wasn’t a heartless person, but neither was he particularly gentle. As for his mother, he didn’t have much yearning but rather a sense of resentment.
She thought she was being impartial, but never realized that both her son and daughter felt let down.
He knew the life his sister had led in the Yun Residence, which his mother never bothered to think about or visit. Her personal Hidden Guard could’ve made a difference with just one word.
In Sanzhou, even without his parents, his grandfather treated him extremely well, and the maids and nanny dared not neglect him.
He always had the best food and clothes, and whenever he thought of his sister’s days in the Yun Residence, he would feel an urge to burst in and eradicate those responsible.
Compared to those people, he found the fact that she was his birth mother even less forgivable.
As for his mother, he had also intended to disregard her, but his sister’s kind heart and shared sufferings restrained him—he didn’t want to let his sister down or see her hurt again.
But keeping up this pretense without giving anything away was truly exhausting...
He slapped his own face, pulling a silly face, closed his eyes, and told himself not to overthink.
"Tomorrow will bring tomorrow’s challenges. Those despicable villains are still waiting to be dealt with!"
Learning that Mrs. Han and Yun Jinnian had returned, many were unable to sleep...