One more time won't hurt

Many years ago, in the Li residence.

Gu Xueqin carried breakfast in her hands and walked into the backyard under the scattered morning sunlight. The surroundings were so quiet that only her footsteps could be heard.

She reached the guest room but didn't enter immediately, instead peeking inside. She saw the little girl, the sole survivor of the Ying family estate, curled up on the bed.

"Has Little Bing'er not woken up yet?"

"Madam, the child didn't sleep all night. I went in to persuade her to rest, but she just stared at me without saying a word. It was quite frightening," the maid said, still shaken.

"So she only fell asleep this morning..."

"Madam, so many people from the Ying estate... only she survived, and her body is so cold. Do you think she might have been... haunted by something inauspicious, which is why..."

The maid lowered her head before finishing, noticing the usually gentle mistress's gaze growing stern.

"I don't wish to hear such talk in this house again."

After dismissing the maid, Gu Xueqin went in to check on little Ying Bing's condition. Finding no illness, she sighed in relief.

Just as she stood up to leave, a cold touch met her hand.

She found the owner of the small hand had a pale face, lips pressed tightly together. Despite the chill emanating from her body, sweat trickled down her furrowed brow.

"Mother... don't leave me..."

"I'm here. Go back to sleep."

Later, Ying Bing would often find herself grasping a warm hand in her dreams.

Time flowed on.

That pitiful little face gradually matured before her eyes. The look of fear and worry vanished, replaced by a slightly dazed yet bright and captivating gaze under the sunlight.

Gu Xueqin was momentarily lost in thought.

The little wretch from back then had grown into a graceful young woman, and was soon to be married.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

"Yes. Why have you come?"

"To bring you some things and take you to the residence in Ziyang Prefecture."

Gu Xueqin sat on the edge of the bed, gently tucking the stray strands of hair behind Ying Bing's ear before opening the various packages.

"To the residence in Ziyang Prefecture?"

Ying Bing tilted her head.

"To have that rascal come fetch you from your maternal home. How can he not come to our door for the betrothal? It wouldn't do for a bride to deliver herself to the groom's house; people would laugh," Madam Gu said with a serious expression.

Ying Bing lowered her eyes. "But I have no maternal family..."

Gu Xueqin took her hand, humming, "Who dares say my Little Bing'er is a girl without a mother? I won't stand for it. Old Li, isn't that right?"

"Yes, yes, yes," Comrade Old Li, who usually prized his dignity, now nodded eagerly like his wife's loyal follower.

Ying Bing was taken aback. The sensation of Gu Xueqin holding her hand felt intensely familiar.

She never knew where this sense of familiarity came from before, but upon hearing that word just now, the feeling suddenly gained substance.

"Mother..."

The soft, slightly dazed voice fell, and the room instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Even though there were four people present, not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

Gu Xueqin looked incredulous, her lips parting. "Little Bing'er, what did you just call me?"

Ying Bing lifted her head this time, looking at Gu Xueqin seriously for a long moment before repeating softly, "Mother."

"Good, good, my dear daughter. Let mother comb your hair."

Gu Xueqin was overjoyed, so excited she fumbled with the comb several times before holding it steady.

Comrade Old Li was flustered, standing up and sitting down again, muttering about inviting all his colleagues over for a celebration until they were drunk. Even though he knew this was just the betrothal banquet, he simply couldn't contain himself.

Before, at colleagues' children's wedding banquets or grandchildren's full-month celebrations, he was often asked:

"When will your family have another member?"

"How are the two youngsters doing? I thought I'd be drinking your Li family's wedding wine first."

Whenever he heard such questions, what could Old Li do? He could only take a sip of wine and smile without a word.

Giving the impression that everything was under control, but it just wasn't the right time to announce it yet.

"..."

Shang Qinqing was unexpectedly calm.

She walked out of the room as if nothing had happened, without saying a word.

"Huh? Qinqing, why are you down here?"

Qin Yuzhi, utterly confused, was pulled by her to a corner of the Qiushui Pavilion.

"Hah..." Shang Qinqing clutched her chest and slumped to the ground, then began gasping for breath as if having an asthma attack, taking deep breaths repeatedly.

"What's wrong? Tell me quickly."

"Huff... huff, give me a moment."

Shang Qinqing, noticing no one was paying attention, began rolling back and forth on the ground.

"Don't scare me. What on earth is the matter?"

"Little Bing'er called Madam Gu 'Mother'."

"Hiss..."

Qin Yuzhi leaned back slightly as if struck by lightning.

And so...

The figure rolling on the ground increased from one to two.

"...What's wrong with them?" Shang Li looked up and asked.

Shang Wu yawned. "They're having an episode. It's called... oh, hyperglycemia. Eat less sugar, or you'll end up like that too."

"Understood, sister," Shang Li nodded fearfully.

Li Mo had been looking for Shang Qinqing for a while and finally spotted her near the banyan tree. Before he could get close, he heard her whispering with Qin Yuzhi.

"When Madam Gu heard Little Bing'er call her mother, she was deeply moved."

"How awful that I wasn't there then."

Li Mo: "!"

The ice block changed how she addresses mother?

Young Li crossed his arms, looking profound. Since she'd changed how she addressed his mom, she should change how she addresses him too in the future. She can't call him 'childish ghost' anymore; she should call him...

"Madam Gu was combing Little Bing'er's hair, so moved she even cried."

"Isn't that a happy occasion?"

"She said a mother's feelings are complicated when she thinks of her daughter getting married..."

"???"

Question marks popped up one after another on young Li's forehead.

If he remembered correctly, the Li family only had one son with the surname Li.

Baffled, Li Mo went upstairs but was stopped at the door by Comrade Old Li, who stood guard like a security officer.

"If you have something to say, say it at the door."

"...Father, do you think it's possible... that you've been hiding something from me?"

"What thing?"

"That you switched me with the Ying family's child when we were babies, and the ice block is actually your biological child."

"?"

Seeing his father freeze for a moment, then subconsciously reach for his belt, Li Mo cleared his throat lightly and got down to serious business.

Li Mo didn't want to ruin the beautiful moment, but he knew this betrothal banquet was destined not to be peaceful.

Although the Qingyuan Sect had made detailed contingency plans, no one could guarantee there wouldn't be any unexpected incidents.

Li Mo said with a serious face:

"Father, when the time comes, you and mother better not make excuses about passing by the bridal chamber on your way to the latrine."

"Just who is the son of a bitch daring to ruin my Old Li family's good fortune?"

Li Dalong flew into a rage upon hearing someone might cause trouble.

Li Mo said helplessly, "The Summoning Demon Cult and the Lingxi Sect. I estimate at least two Seventh Realm cultivators. I didn't count the Sixth Realm ones, but there should be no less than ten."

"......"

After his initial outburst, Li Dalong fell silent for a moment, then grumbled in a lower tone, "Hmph, I know. When the time comes, I'll take your mother and the others to a safe place. If those cunning villains ever fall into my hands one day..."

"Father, let's go inside to talk," Li Mo signaled for him to lower his voice.

"No, can't you see I'm standing right at the door? Your mother is inside, helping Ying Bing try on the engagement ceremony clothes."

"Hiss..."

Li Mo, who had wanted to go in anyway, now felt he absolutely had to enter.