Chapter Seventy: Can You Be My Mother?

Shen Yue Ru returned to Qingyun City that day, entering the room with a listless demeanor. She saw Yun Ziqi sitting by the table, smiling as he pointed to a spread of dishes.

"Hungry? Come eat, it's just been prepared."

"How did he know I'd be back now? I didn't tell him," Shen Yue Ru wondered. However, she didn't have the energy to think about it and slowly sat down, starting to eat.

"Yue Ru, where did you go? You were gone for so long."

She couldn't possibly tell him she had been bullied.

"I... I went to Xiyun City to see a friend."

"Really? You must be tired from the journey. Eat more."

He then placed several dishes onto her plate.

Since marrying Yun Ziqi, Shen Yue Ru had never shown him a smile. She couldn't bring herself to smile, but she feared losing him.

"How is Ning'er?"

The "Ning'er" she referred to was their daughter, Shen Ning.

"She likes to read. She's been in the study room reading these days."

"Oh."

As Shen Yue Ru ate, Yun Ziqi noticed her heavy-hearted demeanor and expressed his concern.

"Yue Ru, what's wrong?"

Shen Yue Ru was startled and hastily replied, "Nothing... nothing's wrong. You eat too."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes... I'm done eating."

She put down her chopsticks and left. Yun Ziqi was puzzled, but after Shen Yue Ru left, his hand tightened around his cup, his deep gaze filled with killing intent.

That evening, at Moonlight Hotel, Yun Chuxue returned to find Yu Zixi not in bed. She began to search the room and spotted a tuft of dark hair near a small cabinet.

So she's hiding here.

Yun Chuxue quietly approached and saw Yu Zixi's small head occasionally peeking out. When it was silent, she touched her own head. "Where is Sister?"

At that moment, Yun Chuxue scooped up Yu Zixi. "Xixi."

Yu Zixi was startled and awkwardly said, "Sister, how did you find me?"

"Hmm... telepathy."

"Hee hee,"

Yun Chuxue placed Yu Zixi on the bed and took out a piece of clothing from her spatial ring. It was just the right size for Yu Zixi.

"Sister, is this for me?"

"Yes, try it on."

After dressing her, Yun Chuxue observed her carefully and said with satisfaction, "Perfect, Xixi looks beautiful in it."

"Thank you, Sister. This is my favorite gift."

In fact, Yun Chuxue had made the clothing herself. As a mother, making something for her daughter with her own hands was the happiest thing.

After Yu Zixi spoke, her expression dimmed. Yun Chuxue sat beside her and asked,

"What's wrong, Xixi? Is it uncomfortable?"

Maybe the clothes weren't comfortable,

"Sister, can you be my mother?"

Yu Zixi's voice was small. Yun Chuxue only heard her asking to be something, not catching the latter part. Yun Chuxue asked again.

"Xixi, what do you want me to be?"

"Mom."

It was hard to imagine a child just over six years old saying this. Perhaps she missed her mother too much. A childhood without maternal love is the saddest.

Yun Chuxue froze. She hadn't expected Yu Zixi to say such a thing. She was her mother, but it wasn't convenient to reveal that now.

Yun Chuxue's heart ached. She hated this era. She longed to be an ordinary person, to be a normal mother raising her child.

With great power comes great responsibility. She had no choice now.

Suppressing her tears, she hugged Yu Zixi tightly and comforted her,

"Xixi, I can't be your mother, but I..."

Before Yun Chuxue could finish, Yu Zixi broke free and burrowed under the covers.

"I'm not talking to you anymore."

Those few words hinted at Yu Zixi's feelings for Yun Chuxue. Having only met a few times, she already had such thoughts. Was it that Yu Zixi was simple-minded, or had she seriously considered it?

During dinner, no matter how much Yun Chuxue called her, Yu Zixi ignored her. When Yun Chuxue mentioned that if she didn't eat, she would call Yu Shi to take her back, Yu Zixi immediately threw off the covers and looked at Yun Chuxue with teary eyes, shouting,

"Why call him? Ever since I can remember, he just stares at that painting in his room every day. He's never spent time with me."

Tears streamed down Yu Zixi's small cheeks.

"Sister Ruoyu and Brother Zixuan are always busy. I'm alone. Who can I play with? What should I do? Waaaah!"

Every tear Yu Zixi shed felt like a heavy blow to Yun Chuxue's heart. She never realized how lonely the little girl's soul was.

Yun Chuxue walked over, knelt on the bed, and hugged Yu Zixi tightly.

"Xixi, don't cry. Sister promises, okay?"

"Okay."

Tears rolled down Yun Chuxue's cheeks. She really was an unfit mother.

Wiping Yu Zixi's tears, Yun Chuxue gently said,

"Xixi, are you hungry?"

"I'm hungry, Mom... Mommy."

That word "Mommy" made Yun Chuxue's heart skip a beat. Although it was said hesitantly, Yun Chuxue loved hearing it.

"Yes, let's eat."

After dinner, Yun Chuxue and Yu Zixi sat on the balcony. Yun Chuxue casually asked about Yu Zixi's "mom."

"I hate her. If she comes back one day, I'll ask her why she abandoned me."

Yun Chuxue pressed her lips together. "Maybe your mother had something very important to do. Otherwise, why would she leave you? Besides, many forces on the continent were targeting your mother back then. She had to hide and cultivate to protect you better."

"Mom, you're defending her. I wish you were my real mother. How great would that be?"

Seeing the hopeful look on Yu Zixi's face, Yun Chuxue felt helpless. "Why do you think that?"

"Mom, I have a feeling. My intuition tells me you're my real mother, but I can't be sure."

She's still young. What does she know?

Yun Chuxue didn't say anything, just looked wistful. Yu Zixi changed the subject,

"Mom, why do you wear a veil and mask when you go out?"

Yun Chuxue remembered she had never shown Yu Zixi her true face.

She slowly removed the veil, revealing her real face. Yu Zixi was stunned.

"Mom, you're so beautiful!"

Yun Chuxue smiled and patted Yu Zixi's small head. "Xixi will grow up to be even more beautiful."

"Mm."

After a while, Yu Zixi seemed to think of something. She looked seriously at Yun Chuxue. "Mom, you still haven't told me why you wear the veil."

"Huh? Oh, right, I'll tell you now."

"Mm."

Yu Zixi looked at Yun Chuxue with anticipation because she loved listening to Yun Chuxue talk.

"In the past, I was a bit rebellious. I liked fighting and provoked some people I shouldn't have. Later, I worked hard to cultivate and became strong enough to chase after those people and then..."

Yu Zixi listened quietly, scheming in her heart. "If she really is my mother, how wonderful that would be. I wouldn't hate her."

After finishing her story, Yun Chuxue saw Yu Zixi engrossed, a bit lost in thought.

"Xixi?"

"What?" Yu Zixi snapped back. "Mom, do you know how to dance? You're so beautiful; you must look amazing when you dance."

Talking about dancing reminded Yun Chuxue of her years in Luoshen Valley. Smiling, she said, "Alright, Mom will dance for you."

Moonlight streamed into the room as a remarkably graceful woman danced for a little girl. The dance was called "Snow, Moon, Wind, and Flowers."

The dance was beautiful, sometimes like the flowing water on a high mountain, slow but continuous; sometimes like white clouds under the blue sky, varied but elegant.

Yu Zixi was very happy. Even when she fell asleep, she had a smile on her face. Yun Chuxue, seeing Yu Zixi asleep, gently placed her on the bed.

After stroking her delicate cheek, she lay down beside her.