CHAPTER 116 — A Home Where She Finally Breathes
Morning sunlight spilled gently through the Mu estate's tall windows, soft and golden, warming the polished floors and drifting across the living room where three small bodies lay scattered like little kittens.
Shi Yichen was curled around a stuffed fox.
Shi Qing'er had her tiny leg sprawled over her brother's stomach.
And Mu Rui lay between them, one small arm stretched out as if trying to protect both siblings even in sleep.
Mu Lingchen stood by the doorway, a cup of warm milk in his hand, watching the scene with a tenderness that softened every line of his usually stern face.
Behind him, footsteps padded quietly.
Shi Yunxi approached, hair loosely tied, wearing one of Lingchen's oversized shirts because he refused to let her sleep alone last night — not after everything.
She stopped beside him, breath catching when her eyes landed on the triplets.
Her babies.
Safe.
Together.
Breathing.
Her hand lifted to her lips as emotion welled in her chest. "They… look peaceful."
Lingchen lowered his gaze to her, his voice soft. "They wouldn't sleep without you. You know that."
Yunxi smiled faintly. "They've been through so much."
"So have you."
She gently nudged him with her shoulder. "So have you."
He didn't deny it.
Because last night — after Rui had been rescued, after the hospital confirmed no internal injuries except bruising, after Roulan had been dragged away screaming like a madwoman — something in Lingchen had cracked.
He had held Rui for an entire hour, refusing to let anyone take the child from his arms.
He had followed Yunxi everywhere she walked.
He had even stood guard outside the hospital bathroom door.
Now, in the quiet after the chaos, the exhaustion lingered on both of them.
Yunxi stepped forward and knelt beside the children. With gentle fingers, she brushed Rui's hair, then Yichen's forehead, then Qing'er's cheek.
Her voice trembled. "I almost lost him… Lingchen, I almost—"
He knelt behind her, arms sliding around her shoulders from behind. He rested his chin gently on her head.
"But you didn't," he whispered. "He's here. They're all here. And you're here."
She leaned back into his warmth.
His presence steadied her beating heart.
The past three days had been a whirlwind — police investigations, media coverage exploding, the Shi family collapsing beneath the weight of Roulan's confessions, Shi Zhenai desperately trying to deny everything, and supporters flooding the internet with messages for Yunxi.
But here…
In this quiet room filled with morning light…
None of that mattered.
Only family mattered.
Only healing mattered.
A Soft Breakfast
When the triplets finally stirred awake, it was Rui who opened his eyes first.
He blinked.
Rubbed his tiny fists against his face.
Then squirmed into Yunxi's lap instinctively, mumbling,
"Mama…"
Tears flooded Yunxi's eyes instantly. She kissed the top of his head again and again.
"Mommy's here," she whispered, voice breaking. "I didn't leave. I'll never leave again."
Rui's arms wrapped tightly around her waist as if afraid she might disappear.
Soon after, Yichen woke.
He sat up with his messy bed hair sticking out in all directions and frowned at Rui.
"Why are you hugging Mama alone? I want too."
Qing'er popped up next, her voice sleepy and adorable.
"I want Mama tooooo!"
And like magnets, the three of them tackled Yunxi, burying themselves into her chest as if trying to merge into her warmth forever.
Lingchen watched the scene unfold with a smile that couldn't be erased even if he tried. "Should I bring breakfast here?"
Qing'er perked up. "Pancake?"
Yichen raised his hand. "Milk!"
Rui mumbled, still clinging. "Mama."
Yunxi laughed for the first time in days — a real laugh, warm and bright.
"I think Rui wins," Lingchen said.
Rui nodded proudly without letting go.
A Heart That Begins to Heal
Later, after breakfast was served in the sunroom — where the windows opened to a view of the garden — Yunxi took a quiet walk outside.
The grass was still damp with dew.
The flowers were just starting to bloom.
For the first time in a long time, she inhaled and felt her lungs open fully.
Freedom.
Safety.
Peace.
It had been three years of running.
Three years of protecting her babies.
Three years of living with fear knotted inside her bones.
And now…
It was finally ending.
Footsteps approached behind her.
She didn't need to turn to know it was him.
Lingchen stopped beside her, hands in his pockets, watching her silently for a moment.
"You're thinking again," he said quietly.
She smiled without looking away from the flowers. "I've had too much to think about."
He nodded. "Do you regret it? Coming back?"
She shook her head. "No. Not anymore."
Lingchen exhaled, relief visibly relaxing his shoulders.
"I thought," he said slowly, "that after everything — after the danger, after the police, after Roulan — you might run again."
Her eyes softened.
"I'm tired of running."
He looked at her.
She continued, voice gentle.
"I want a place to stop. A place to breathe. A place to grow with them. And with…"
She hesitated.
He waited.
"…with you."
Lingchen's breath caught.
He stepped closer, taking her hand carefully as if afraid she might shatter.
"Yunxi," he said, voice low and full, "I'll give you that place. I'll give you everything. Just stay."
She met his gaze.
"I'm staying."
Those two words were enough to steady his entire world.
He pulled her into his arms slowly, giving her time to resist.
She didn't.
She rested her cheek against his chest, listening to the steady beat beneath his ribs.
For the first time in a long time…
She felt safe.
Truly, deeply safe.
A Family That Chooses Each Other
When they returned inside, the triplets were building a blanket fort with the maids' help.
Yichen proudly pointed. "Mama! Look! Castle!"
Qing'er nodded with her tiny chin raised. "I'm princess!"
Rui added, "I'm knight."
Lingchen smirked. "And what is Mama?"
"Queen," Yichen said immediately.
"And Daddy?" Lingchen teased gently.
The children looked at each other.
Then Rui nodded decisively. "Daddy is king."
Lingchen's heart nearly burst.
Yunxi's cheeks warmed.
Family.
This was family.
Not the Shi family — who used her, controlled her, punished her.
But this one.
This loud, messy, loving little world held together by giggles, soft embraces, and the gentle warmth of Mu Lingchen's hand brushing hers every time he passed by.
She was no longer alone.
She had three children who loved her more than anything.
She had a man who would walk into fire with her.
She had a home where she finally breathed.
And as she sat inside the blanket fort — triplets piling onto her lap again — she whispered with trembling joy:
"We're finally safe."
Lingchen crawled into the fort behind them, wrapping his arms around her and the children in one warm embrace.
"No," he whispered into her ear.
"We're finally home."