CHAPTER 90 — The Promise the Triplets Make
Morning sunlight spilled gently across the Mu estate's garden, turning the dew on the leaves into tiny scattered diamonds. The triplets sat under the gazebo—Rui upright and attentive, Yichen munching secretly on cookies he stole from the kitchen, and Qing'er kicking her legs while hugging her plush rabbit.
But today wasn't like any other morning.
Today, all three of them wore the same expression—serious, heavy, and far too mature for three-year-olds.
Because last night… they had learned something they weren't supposed to know.
Something Mommy had been trying so hard to hide.
It began with Rui.
It always started with Rui.
He had woken up at dawn to grab his coloring pencils from Mommy's room—only to hear her crying quietly in the bathroom.
He froze.
Mommy never cried.
Not like that.
Not softly. Not painfully. Not like someone trying so hard not to break.
He didn't open the door.
He didn't call out.
He only stood there, tiny fist clenching at his chest as though the sound itself hurt him.
When she came out minutes later, her eyes were red—but she smiled at him anyway, pretending nothing happened.
And that was worse.
Because Rui knew what lies looked like.
He had grown up watching his mother lie to protect them. To survive. To keep smiling so her three children didn't worry. Rui had learned to read her face better than anyone else.
So when she walked out of the bathroom, pretending nothing was wrong while wiping the corners of her eyes…
He knew she was hurting.
Deeply.
And he didn't know why.
But he knew one thing:
Mommy was hiding something.
Something painful.
Something dangerous.
Something she didn't want them to know.
And Rui couldn't let it continue.
So now, in the gazebo, he called a "serious meeting."
Yichen didn't understand at first.
Qing'er thought it was about cookies.
But when Rui told them Mommy had cried…
The entire world stopped.
Qing'er's small face instantly scrunched, eyes filling with tears. "Mama cried? Why?! Who made her cry? I will bite them!"
Yichen puffed his tiny chest, fists balled. "Yes! Tell me who! I will beat them!"
Rui shook his head firmly. "We don't know who. But Mommy is sad. And she's hiding it."
The twins fell silent.
Rui continued, voice low and steady, "Mommy always protects us. Always. But we're big now."
"You're three," Yichen corrected.
Rui glared. "Three is big."
Yichen nodded reluctantly. "Okay… big-ish."
"Big enough," Rui insisted, "to protect Mommy back."
Qing'er sat straighter, her rabbit hugged to her chest. "So what do we do?"
Rui took a deep breath. "We make a promise. The three of us."
The twins leaned closer.
Rui continued, "We protect Mommy no matter what. Even if she says she doesn't want help. Even if she tries to hide things. We find out the truth and protect her."
Yichen's eyes flashed. "Yes!"
Qing'er nodded fiercely. "Protect Mommy forever!"
Rui held out his small hand. "Then let's make a promise."
The twins instantly placed their hands over his.
Three little hands stacked together.
Three little hearts beating with fierce determination.
Three little souls united by one purpose.
Rui whispered, "This is our secret. Only for the three of us."
And they repeated, voices soft but firm:
"We will always protect Mommy."
"Always."
"Forever."
The wind blew gently through the garden, lifting their hair and carrying their promise into the air—like a vow sealed by the morning sun itself.
But their conversation didn't end there.
Yichen, always the sharpest, frowned. "But Rui, why do you think Mommy cried?"
Qing'er's lip trembled. "Did someone scold her?"
Rui looked toward the large mansion. Toward Mu Lingchen's office window.
Toward the man who had slowly—so slowly—become part of their small world.
"I think…" Rui murmured, "…Mommy is scared."
The twins leaned in.
"Scared of what?" Qing'er whispered.
"Scared that someone will take us away," Rui whispered.
The twins stiffened.
Then Yichen clenched his fists. "I won't go!"
Qing'er shook her head wildly. "Never! Never ever!"
Rui nodded. "That's why we protect her."
Yichen hesitated. "But Daddy will protect her too… right?"
All three children fell quiet.
Because even though they liked him…
Even though they felt safe with him…
Even though he was gentle, warm, patient, and brave…
They were still afraid.
Not of him.
Of losing him.
Of losing Mommy because of him.
Rui sighed softly. "Daddy tries. Really tries. He's good to us."
Yichen grumbled, "But he always looks guilty."
Qing'er nodded gravely. "Like when he stepped on my bunny."
"You threw the bunny at him," Rui said flatly.
"Well," Qing'er muttered, "he still stepped on it."
The boys ignored her.
Rui continued, "Daddy is nice. But Mommy… when she looks at him… she gets scared sometimes."
Yichen frowned. "Scared of Daddy?"
"No. Scared of what will happen." Rui stretched his legs. "And sometimes… Daddy looks scared too."
The twins thought about it for a long moment.
Then Qing'er whispered:
"We have to protect Daddy too."
Rui blinked.
Yichen blinked.
Qing'er looked at them innocently. "If Daddy is sad, Mommy will be sad. And if Mommy is sad, we will be sad."
Rui rubbed his forehead as if dealing with two very complicated toddlers.
But finally—he nodded.
"Yes… we protect Daddy too. But mostly Mommy."
"Mostly Mommy," the twins agreed.
Just then, footsteps approached.
The children snapped to attention like tiny soldiers.
Mu Lingchen appeared at the garden arch, hands in his pockets, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
"What are you three discussing?" he asked warmly as he stepped inside.
The triplets exchanged a lightning-fast look.
Rui whispered, "Act normal!"
Qing'er sat straighter. "Normal!"
Yichen nodded. "Yes. Very normal."
Lingchen raised an eyebrow.
"…Suspiciously normal."
Rui forced a smile. "Daddy, we were… um… talking about cookies."
Qing'er nodded quickly. "Yes! Chocolate ones!"
Lingchen chuckled. "I see."
He reached out and gently ruffled Rui's hair.
Rui fought the urge to lean into the touch.
Beside them, Yunxi approached, carrying a basket of cut fruit. Her smile was soft but tired.
The triplets saw it.
And their hearts tightened.
Yunxi placed the basket on the table. "Breakfast time."
The triplets scrambled over instantly—three small bodies climbing onto seats, grabbing fruit, and arguing over who got the biggest slice.
Lingchen pulled out a chair for Yunxi.
She hesitated.
He waited patiently.
And she finally sat.
The triplets exchanged another glance.
Rui whispered to his siblings:
"Protect Mommy."
Yichen nodded. "Protect Mommy."
Qing'er whispered, "Protect Mommy and Daddy."
Then the three little faces turned toward their parents at the same time.
Watching.
Observing.
Thinking.
Planning.
The promise they made this morning echoed silently in their hearts.
And though Yunxi and Lingchen didn't know it yet…
Their children had already chosen a side.
And that side…
Was family.