Jiang Qionghua was so choked up by the word “auntie” that her tears nearly stopped mid-flow. Her hand froze awkwardly in mid-air as she gazed at Jiang Yi through tear-filled eyes, momentarily at a loss for words.
Jiang Yi wore an embarrassed expression as she explained, “I don’t remember anything from before, so…” Moreover, Jiang Sixian had been in such a hurry that Jiang Yi hadn’t had the chance to ask for photos of her two mothers. It was perfectly normal not to recognize them immediately.
Of course, based on the woman’s appearance and reaction, Jiang Yi deduced this must be her mother.
Sure enough, after she finished speaking, Jiang Qionghua threw her arms around Jiang Yi again, ruffling her hair while crying pitifully: “I’m your mom!”
Jiang Yi found herself enveloped in the embrace, somewhat at a loss. But soon, she sensed a uniquely maternal warmth radiating from this woman and gradually relaxed.
Fine, fine. In this world, she’d already inexplicably gained a grandmother—now adding a mother wasn’t so hard to accept.
As the Jiang mother-daughter pair engaged in their “tearful reunion,” Ning Wenying also approached Jiang Yi.
Her eyes reddened, she gazed at Jiang Yi in Jiang Qionghua’s arms and called out tremulously: “Xiao Yi…”
Jiang Yi looked up to see a woman bearing five or six parts resemblance to Jiang Sixian standing opposite them, watching her with joyful excitement. Just then, Jiang Yi noticed Jiang Sixian moving toward the woman and instantly realized this must be Jiang Sixian’s mother.
Jiang Yi immediately straightened her posture, releasing her birth mother to greet the other woman like a son-in-law meeting his future mother-in-law, awkwardly saying: “Hello, Auntie.”
Jiang Qionghua wiped her tears and explained somewhat sheepishly: “This is your Auntie Ning. We… we got married a few years ago.”
As Jiang Sixian and Ning Wenying came closer, Jiang Yi instinctively glanced at Ning Wenying’s flat abdomen and nodded: “That’s nice. Jiang Sixian mentioned you’re expecting another child. She’ll have a little sister soon—what wonderful news.”
“Congratulations!”
Though Jiang Yi’s expression was sincere, her tone carried the perfunctory politeness of a neighbor offering holiday greetings.
Hearing this, Jiang Qionghua couldn’t help turning to look at Jiang Sixian. When exactly had she and Wenying-jie conceived this child?
Ning Wenying glanced at her daughter’s calm expression and sighed softly while holding her hand: “It seems Xianxian really does want a little sister.”
Jiang Sixian nodded: “Mm, I’ll be happy with any child of yours.”
Jiang Yi observed the ambiguous reactions of the other three with bewilderment. What did this mean—were they not actually pregnant?
The four lingered at the arrivals gate long enough to attract curious onlookers. Having finally reunited with her family, Jiang Yi had no desire to remain as a spectacle. She cleared her throat: “This isn’t the best place. You must be tired after your flight—let’s head home first.”
Jiang Qionghua clung to her hand, lips trembling: “Okay.”
Even though both Jiang Qionghua and Ning Wenying had reviewed the documents Jiang Sixian provided yesterday, facing Jiang Yi in person still reduced Jiang Qionghua to the nervous chatter of an overprotective father.
Jiang Yi answered every question dutifully, recounting events after her accident—burying her grandmother, her military service.
Jiang Qionghua grew particularly anxious asking about Jiang Yi’s health. In truth, apart from her amnesia, Jiang Yi was in excellent condition, with every medical checkup yielding encouraging results.
During the ride to the Jiang residence, Jiang Qionghua sat holding Jiang Yi’s hand, comforting her: “Whether you remember or not doesn’t matter. Just being safe is enough.”
Truthfully, ever since Jiang Yi’s differentiation had confined her to home years ago, this had been Jiang Qionghua’s philosophy. Their family had wealth enough to support Jiang Yi indefinitely—the possibility of Jiang Yi joining a special military unit had never crossed Jiang Qionghua’s mind.
Yet no one could have predicted that tragedy would strike Jiang Yi. To this day, Jiang Qionghua couldn’t bring herself to blame Jiang Sixian or resent Ning Wenying.
If anyone deserved blame, it was herself for not being more attentive to the children. She’d assumed their peaceful society held no place for the deranged criminals who would harm her child.
The incident had been orchestrated by Jiang Liuyun at his wife’s instigation. When Ning Wenying helped police uncover evidence, Jiang Liuyun stubbornly denied everything—until Ning Wenying leveraged compromising information to force his confession and imprisonment.
After resolving the matter, Jiang Qionghua never stopped searching for Jiang Yi.
When she’d first learned of Jiang Yi’s existence, the reality of having a child hadn’t fully registered.
But after Jiang Yi’s differentiation, Jiang Qionghua spent nearly every day by her side. This period made her profoundly aware that in this world flowed blood shared with another human being.
Even without feelings for Jiang Yi’s mother, she couldn’t deny that half of Jiang Yi’s blood was hers.
This was her child.
Before uniting with Ning Wenying, Jiang Qionghua believed nothing could hurt more than watching the person she loved marry the wrong man and start a family.
Yet after losing Jiang Yi, she discovered a deeper pain—the anguish of gaining then losing. The devastation of losing a child in middle age nearly broke her. She couldn’t explain why Jiang Yi’s disappearance affected her so profoundly, but during that period, she could do nothing but obsessively search for her daughter.
Stubborn by nature, she’d barrel through brick walls without looking back.
Witnessing this, the already guilt-ridden Ning Wenying grew increasingly distressed.
Compounding matters, Jiang Sixian developed severe psychological trauma from the kidnapping. Caught between caring for her daughter and comforting her lover, Ning Wenying became physically and emotionally exhausted.
Ultimately, Ning Wenying saw no alternative but to propose to Jiang Qionghua: “Let’s get married. I made you lose a daughter—if possible, I want to give you another.”
Yet both knew any new daughter could never replace Jiang Yi.
Ning Wenying continued her proposal: “I can’t replace her. But…I don’t want to lose you, my love.”
It was the first time Jiang Qionghua had heard the word “love” from Ning Wenying’s lips. Suddenly she understood—her lover shared her grief, ached with her aching.
She accepted the proposal, formally making Jiang Sixian her daughter. Having lost one child herself, she couldn’t bear for her lover to lose hers.
They married, built a family, and through intensive therapy, gradually restored Jiang Sixian’s mental health.
Jiang Qionghua always assumed Jiang Sixian’s fixation on Jiang Yi stemmed from guilt over indirectly causing her disappearance.
Even when Jiang Sixian spent days sequestered in Jiang Yi’s cottage, she attributed it to unresolved trauma.
Though Jiang Yi had given Jiang Sixian a temporary mark, the thought of romantic feelings between them never occurred to her.
In her eyes, Jiang Sixian was simply another daughter—their relationship couldn’t exceed sisterly bonds.
But today, seeing Jiang Yi again, Jiang Qionghua began noticing previously overlooked peculiarities.
After comforting Jiang Yi, she studied Jiang Sixian curiously, faintly detecting an unusual fragrance about her.
An Alpha’s scent—one that instinctively repelled Jiang Qionghua.
Clutching Jiang Yi’s hand nervously, she asked: “Xianxian…how did you find Xiao Yi?”
A startling possibility dawned on her, filling her with shock.
Jiang Sixian didn’t conceal the truth: “At my birthday banquet. We spent several days together afterward.”
Jiang Qionghua tightened her grip on Jiang Yi’s hand, looking at her daughter incredulously: “What exactly is your relationship now?”
Jiang Yi’s heart skipped a beat, startled by the shock in her mother’s eyes.
Before she could respond, Jiang Sixian answered from across the car: “Currently we’re dating. Though we were before as well.” While their official relationship had lasted mere moments, Jiang Sixian had considered them together all six years—even regarding Jiang Yi as her girlfriend. Saying “before” wasn’t inaccurate.
Jiang Qionghua felt surprised yet not entirely shocked. Clutching Jiang Yi’s hand, she murmured: “I see…so that’s how it was…”
Then looking up at Jiang Yi, she demanded louder: “Since when? Why didn’t I know anything about this!”
How outrageous! She’d played video games with Jiang Yi daily—why had her daughter hidden a girlfriend from her!
Equally baffled, Jiang Yi blinked innocently: “I don’t know either.” As an “amnesiac,” how could she possibly know how Jiang Yi and Jiang Sixian had gotten together?
Faced with Jiang Yi’s clueless expression, Jiang Qionghua’s frustration found no outlet. She sighed, shoulders slumping in resignation.
Jiang Sixian peeked at her cautiously: “Does Auntie Qionghua disapprove?”
Did she disapprove? Of course she disapproved!
But Jiang Sixian wasn’t her biological daughter—what right did she have to object? Helpless, she turned pleading eyes toward Ning Wenying.
Long aware of the situation, Ning Wenying smiled at Jiang Qionghua: “I have no objections. I always thought Xiao Yi would make a fine son-in-law.”
“Besides, they were together before we married—no ethical complications exist. So…”
She turned to Jiang Yi with a smile: “Xiao Yi, when do you and Xianxian plan to marry?”
Jiang Qionghua’s eyes widened as she stared at Ning Wenying: “They can still marry? After we married, Jiang Yi and Xianxian would be…would be…”
Ah, it was too convoluted to explain!
A horrifying possibility struck her: “Are you suggesting we divorce? Or break up?”
As Jiang Qionghua verged on panic, Jiang Yi interjected dryly: “No need to worry. Legally, we don’t have a mother-daughter relationship.”
“Even if Jiang Sixian and I end up together, it won’t affect your relationship with Auntie Ning.”
Jiang Qionghua froze, staring at Jiang Yi in shock: “You don’t want to acknowledge me?”
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