Chapter 109: Homecoming

The ice-blue Porsche slowly pulled into the villa district.

The guard at the gate saw the license plate from afar, smiled and saluted, and the barrier lifted early. This car had stopped here many times; they all recognized it as the Luo family’s car.

Luo Xiaoyun parked the car in front of the Luo family villa and turned off the engine. The engine quieted, leaving only the rustle of wind through the treetops. She sat in the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel, her knuckles slightly white.

She sat in the car for a moment, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.

Cold wind hit her face, carrying the chill of early winter. She wrapped her coat tighter and walked step by step toward the front door. Her steps were slow, as if each foot landed on cotton, soft and insubstantial.

She entered the passcode and gently pushed the door open.

In the living room, Shen Zhiyao and Luo Jingming were sitting on the sofa chatting and laughing. On the coffee table were cut fruit and a plate of sunflower seeds.

Hearing footsteps, Shen Zhiyao looked up.

A white-haired woman walked in from the entrance hall. Her silver-white hair fell over her shoulders, setting off a delicate and soft face.

Luo Jingming looked at her, immediately showing a gentle smile, and nodded slightly to signal her to relax.

Shen Zhiyao’s gaze paused on that face for an instant. The hair had changed, she was wearing women’s clothes, but that was her child. She recognized it at a glance.

But she didn’t speak immediately. She saw Luo Xiaoyun’s tightly pressed lips and slightly trembling fingers, saw the unease and nervousness hidden in those clear eyes.

Shen Zhiyao’s heart felt as if something gently tugged at it.

She didn’t move. She just put down the sunflower seeds, leaned back on the sofa, slightly curved her lips, and asked in a soft, doubtful voice: “You are…?”

Luo Xiaoyun’s fingers clutched the hem of her clothes, knuckles white. She opened her mouth, her voice tight, but still gathered all her courage and said word by word: “Mom, I’m Xiaoyun.”

The living room was quiet for a moment.

Luo Jingming sat on the sofa, arms crossed, a smile on his lips, looking like he was enjoying the show.

As the words fell, Shen Zhiyao’s pretense could no longer hold. The doubt on her face instantly dissolved into a gentle and bright smile, and she quickly walked up to Luo Xiaoyun.

She reached out and gently pinched Luo Xiaoyun’s cheek, her fingertips soft, her tone full of affection and a hint of teasing: “Indeed, my Xiaoyun, this little face, the feel is still so good, soft and tender.”

Luo Xiaoyun was startled by her mother’s sudden action. Her mind full of confusion, she blurted out: “Mom, aren’t you surprised? I’ve become like this, and you don’t find it strange at all?”

Shen Zhiyao looked at her bewildered expression and finally couldn’t help laughing, her eyes curving like a mischievous child: “Hehe, actually Mom couldn’t keep up the act. I was planning to let you explain yourself.”

Luo Xiaoyun was stunned, her eyes full of confusion: “Huh? What do you mean?”

“Silly child.” Shen Zhiyao reached out and ruffled her hair, her tone gentle. “Your second brother already told me everything. He explained your body, your thoughts. I’ve known for a long time. How could I be surprised?”

Luo Xiaoyun turned to look at Luo Jingming sitting on the sofa.

Luo Jingming raised an eyebrow at her, patted his chest, and said smugly: “See, I told you, I handle things reliably. I communicated with Mom long ago and arranged everything clearly, making sure you wouldn’t suffer any grievance.”

Luo Xiaoyun looked at her second brother’s show-off manner, rolled her eyes helplessly, but also knew he had truly been worrying about her all along, and her heart was full of gratitude.

She turned back to look at Shen Zhiyao. The heart she had just set down lifted again. She clutched the hem of her clothes, fingertips white, and her voice hid a barely perceptible tremor.

“Mom,” she asked cautiously, “I’ve become a girl now, no longer what I was before. Will you… will you still want me?”

As soon as the words fell, Shen Zhiyao opened her arms and hugged Luo Xiaoyun tightly. Her embrace was warm and strong.

She gently patted Luo Xiaoyun’s back, her tone half scolding but full of deep maternal love: “What nonsense! No matter what you become, whether you’re a boy or a girl, you are my most beloved child. How could I not want you?”

Luo Xiaoyun leaned into her mother’s arms, smelling the familiar scent of laundry detergent, just like in her memory. The heart that had been hanging in the air finally settled. All the tension, unease, and anxiety vanished like smoke.

Her eyes instantly reddened, tears swirling in them. She nodded vigorously, her voice choked: “Mm… mm…”

“This matter was never your fault.” Shen Zhiyao held her, her tone gradually taking on a hint of self-blame, and sighed softly.

“It’s all Mom and Dad’s fault. We were careless, didn’t take you for a thorough checkup when you were young, didn’t discover it earlier. We let you suffer so many grievances alone, bear so much pressure by yourself. Mom is sorry to you.”

Thinking of these years, how Xiaoyun was clearly a girl but had to live as a boy, the pain and struggle inside, Shen Zhiyao was filled with self-blame, and tears glistened in her eyes.

Luo Xiaoyun quickly shook her head, reaching out to gently hug her mother, her voice soft: “Mom, it’s not your fault. Really not your fault.”

‘Blame that damnable system.’

Luo Jingming stood up, walked over to them, and gently patted Luo Xiaoyun’s shoulder, his tone tender and doting:

“Alright, don’t be sad anymore. This is a good thing. Let’s just be happy as a family. From now on, our family has an extra warm little coat, and I have a cute little sister. I couldn’t be happier.”

Shen Zhiyao released Luo Xiaoyun, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, then carefully studied her daughter. The more she looked, the more she liked her, her face full of smiles:

“That’s right, it’s a good thing. My Xiaoyun is so pretty, even prettier than Mom was when she was young. Mom finally has a sweet little daughter.”

She took Luo Xiaoyun’s hand and led her to sit on the sofa, holding her hand and looking her up and down, her eyes full of joy.

“I’ve always wanted a daughter,” Shen Zhiyao’s eyes sparkled as she said emotionally. “Whenever I went shopping and saw other families’ little girls wearing dresses, I thought, if only our family had a daughter too. I never expected the heavens to be so generous, directly conjuring one for me.”

Luo Xiaoyun blushed and didn’t speak.

Shen Zhiyao pinched her cheek again and said with a smile: “When your second brother told me last time, I thought he was tricking me. Later I went to the hospital to check, and only then did I know it was true. Do you know how I felt then?”

Luo Xiaoyun shook her head.

“Happy.” Shen Zhiyao’s eyes were bright. “Extremely happy. Happier than winning the lottery.”

Luo Jingming finally couldn’t help interrupting: “Mom, when did you ever win the lottery?”

Shen Zhiyao shot him a look: “A metaphor! Can’t you understand?”

Luo Jingming shrank his neck and fell silent.

Shen Zhiyao stood up, clapped her hands, and said briskly: “Alright, you sit and rest a bit. My cooking has improved a little recently. I’ve researched several new dishes. I’ll go cook and let you taste them.”

Before Luo Xiaoyun could react, Luo Jingming’s face changed dramatically. He sprang up from the sofa and shook his head wildly, the motion so vigorous it seemed he was trying to shake something off his face.

“Mom!” Luo Jingming’s voice cracked. “Let Aunt Wang cook today! Look, Xiaoyun just came back, you should chat with her more. It’s not easy to see each other!”

Shen Zhiyao frowned: “What’s wrong with my cooking? Last time you said it was good, didn’t you?”

Luo Jingming’s face turned even more bitter. Last time, Shen Zhiyao enthusiastically cooked, making a whole table of dishes. After the family ate, everyone except her had vomiting and diarrhea for a whole day and night. Even the family dog didn’t escape.

Luo Jingming leaned close to Luo Xiaoyun’s ear and whispered in a volume only the two could hear: “Last month she stewed a pot of soup. Aunt Wang’s dog sniffed it once and turned away.”

Luo Xiaoyun couldn’t help it and burst out laughing, “Pfft.”

Shen Zhiyao didn’t catch it and looked at them suspiciously: “What are you whispering about?”

“Nothing, nothing!” Luo Jingming quickly waved his hand.

“I just think Xiaoyun just got back, she’s tired from the drive. You should chat with her more, talk heart to heart, let her rest properly. For cooking, let Aunt Wang handle it. You know Aunt Wang’s cooking, Xiaoyun likes it. Don’t bother yourself.”

What a joke. Everyone in the family knew exactly what Shen Zhiyao’s cooking was like. They finally had a little sister; what if she ate something problematic?

Luo Xiaoyun also quickly nodded, holding Shen Zhiyao’s hand and said obediently: “Yes, Mom, second brother is right. I just want to chat more with you. Cooking is too tiring. Let Aunt Wang do it.”

Shen Zhiyao looked at her two children, first stunned, then caught on and couldn’t help laughing. She tapped Luo Jingming’s forehead and then looked dotingly at Luo Xiaoyun:

“You two, alright alright, if you won’t let me cook, I won’t. Then I’ll accompany my precious daughter and chat. When your father comes back, he’ll definitely be very happy seeing you like this. He’s always dreamed of having a daughter.”

Luo Xiaoyun curved her lips and nodded lightly.

Shen Zhiyao reached out and gently ruffled her hair, her fingers running through the silver-white locks, her movements as tender as if stroking some precious treasure.

“Your hair is really beautiful,” Shen Zhiyao said softly. “Is it dyed?”

Luo Xiaoyun shook her head, her voice small: “It’s real.”

“Mom always wanted to raise a little girl with white hair.” Shen Zhiyao smiled, her eyes sparkling. “I never thought I’d actually get one.”

From the kitchen came the sound of Luo Jingming and Aunt Wang talking, mixed with the soft clatter of pots and dishes.

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