CHAPTER 118 — A House That Breathes Again
The Mu estate had never been this quiet.
Not the cold, heavy silence of fear.
Not the restless stillness of danger.
But a gentle quiet.
A peaceful one.
A kind of quiet that came when the storm had finally passed.
Shi Yunxi woke early, sunlight brushing her eyelids through the soft cream curtains. For a moment, she simply lay still, listening to the faint morning sounds drifting through the house—birds outside, the distant hum of the kitchen staff preparing breakfast, and—
A small, warm weight curled against her side.
Rui.
Her little boy.
He was still wearing the tiny blue pajamas Lingchen bought for him two days ago—soft cotton, with little clouds across the fabric. His lashes were long and still damp from last night's dreams; he had cried himself to sleep in her arms, clutching her shirt with desperate fingers.
He looked peaceful now.
Safe.
Alive.
Yunxi gently brushed her fingertips along his cheek.
Three years of raising him alone.
Three years of hiding.
Three years of protecting him from the very people who should have loved him.
He had nearly been taken from her forever.
Her heart clenched.
No… she couldn't think about that anymore.
This was a new morning.
A new beginning.
A small knock sounded at the bedroom door.
Before Yunxi could respond, it opened a crack—and two tiny heads peeked in.
Shi Yichen.
Shi Qing'er.
The other two pieces of her heart.
Qing'er tiptoed in first, her stuffed rabbit dragging behind her.
"Mommy…" she whispered, "is Rui still sleeping?"
Yichen followed more quietly, rubbing his eyes, curls messy as always. "We wanted to check…"
Yunxi smiled softly.
"Come here."
They climbed onto the bed—slowly, carefully—not wanting to wake their brother. Qing'er nestled against Yunxi's other side, while Yichen sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed, staring at Rui with a mixture of protectiveness and lingering fear.
"Mommy…" Yichen whispered, "is Rui… okay now?"
Yunxi kissed the top of his head.
"He will be. He's safe. He just needs time."
Qing'er's small hand tugged her sleeve. "I was scared… I thought Rui wouldn't come back…"
Her voice cracked.
And Yunxi wrapped an arm around both of them, pulling all three of her children close.
"I was scared too," she whispered truthfully. "But Daddy found him. And I found him. And we won't ever let anything happen to any of you again."
Yichen blinked. "Daddy said… we're a family now."
Yunxi's heart trembled.
Yes. Lingchen had said that.
Not with grand promises.
Not with dramatic words.
Just quietly, softly, in the hospital room when Rui finally opened his eyes—
"We're a family. All of us."
Before she could respond, a deeper voice came from the doorway.
"Are we having a morning meeting without me?"
Mu Lingchen stepped in, hair damp from a shower, sleeves rolled up, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.
The triplets immediately brightened.
"Daddy!" Qing'er whispered excitedly.
"You're awake," Lingchen said softly to Yunxi, approaching the bed. His eyes softened as he looked at Rui sleeping against her. "He rested well?"
"Yes," Yunxi replied. "He held onto me all night."
Lingchen nodded, voice low. "Good."
He sat carefully on the edge of the bed. Yichen crawled into his lap without hesitation, leaning back against Lingchen's chest.
Something warm swelled in Yunxi's chest at the sight.
Who would've thought the cold, untouchable Mu Lingchen would be sitting here with messy-haired children crawling all over him?
"Mommy," Qing'er asked suddenly, "are we staying here forever?"
Yunxi paused.
Her future had always been a battlefield—full of fear, escape, hiding.
But now…
She looked at Lingchen.
He met her eyes without blinking.
Without hesitating.
Without fear.
"Forever," he said before Yunxi could speak. His voice was deep, steady. "You're all staying. This is your home."
Qing'er beamed.
Yichen nodded firmly, relief washing through him.
And Yunxi…
Her heart lifted. Softened. Warmed.
But she also knew—
Healing wasn't instant.
She had scars the world couldn't see.
Memories the world wouldn't understand.
And the children too… Rui especially.
Lingchen knew it.
So he reached out slowly—giving her time to stop him—
And placed his hand over hers.
A quiet gesture.
A careful one.
No pressure.
No demands.
Just warmth.
"I'm not rushing you," he said gently. "Or the children. We'll go at your pace. All of you."
Her chest tightened.
She swallowed. "Lingchen…"
"I mean it," he said. His voice was soft, but every word carried the weight of a vow. "We're not just healing Rui. We're healing all four of you."
Four.
Her.
And her three little ones.
She felt tears sting her eyes—but she didn't hide them. Not anymore.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Lingchen smiled—not the cold, corporate smile the world knew. But a soft, private one reserved only for her.
Then he stood.
"Come on," he said to the children. "Breakfast is ready."
"Pancakes?" Qing'er asked, eyes sparkling.
Lingchen nodded. "Yes. And fruit. And warm milk."
Yichen hopped off the bed immediately. "I'll help!"
Qing'er jumped into Lingchen's arms.
He carried her effortlessly, leaving the room with Yichen by his side.
The door closed softly behind them.
Yunxi looked down at Rui—sleeping safely in her arms.
Finally…
Finally, they could heal.
Slowly.
Gently.
Together.
She kissed his forehead.
"Today," she whispered, "we start over."
The house outside filled with the children's laughter.
And for the first time in a long, long time—
Yunxi felt like the world might just be kind again.