Chapter 38: A Family’s Unconventional Truth

Noon sunlight dappled through the leaves, scattering fragmented light and shadow across the ground.

As was their custom, Zi Yanran once again brought Bai Mengqi home for lunch.

For Bai Mengqi, this return home today was vastly different from yesterday’s journey, her state of mind having undergone a significant shift.

When she first met her adorable son and daughter yesterday, she had been utterly stunned, unsure how to interact with them.

Today, however, was different. As the saying went: ‘Once a stranger, twice an acquaintance, thrice like coming home.’

Now, Bai Mengqi no longer felt the awkwardness of yesterday. A faint smile graced her lips, and her eyes held a newfound ease.

Zi Yanran’s parents, too, refrained from their incessant questioning of the previous day.

Their demeanor towards Bai Mengqi was remarkably warm and affectionate, as if she were their own child.

And then there were the two little ones, Xiao Xuan and Xiao Yi, who were naturally friendly.

The moment Bai Mengqi stepped through the door, they immediately swarmed her, tugging tightly at her hands, repeatedly chanting, “Aunt Mengqi, play with us! Play with us!”

Their eyes were wide with immense anticipation, and their little faces were flushed with excitement, making them utterly adorable. Anyone who saw them would instinctively want to embrace them.

Though Bai Mengqi had no prior experience caring for children, facing these two little ones now, she thought, ‘These are my own flesh and blood. Even if I’m unaccustomed, I must learn to care for them.’

Moreover, she wasn’t particularly averse to playing with children.

Thus, she smiled and agreed to the children’s request, following them into the backyard.

In the backyard, the sunlight was perfectly bright, its golden rays evenly spread across every inch of the ground.

The lush green grass resembled a natural velvet carpet, soft and vibrant.

A gentle breeze swept through, carrying wafts of fresh grass scent.

The two children frolicked around Bai Mengqi, chasing each other one moment, then rolling on the grass the next. Their clear laughter echoed through the air like silver bells.

Bai Mengqi gradually immersed herself in this joyful atmosphere.

While Bai Mengqi and the two little ones played freely in the backyard, Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi sat in the living room, unable to suppress their curiosity.

They called Zi Yanran aside, wishing to get a clear understanding.

Zi Ye watched the three happily playing in the backyard, his expression growing exceptionally serious. He began, “Yanran, is this Bai Mengqi the mysterious ability user you had relations with all those years ago?”

As Zi Yanran’s father, he felt he had both the right and the necessity to clarify this matter. He couldn’t possibly let himself and Su Xiaoshi remain so confused and bewildered indefinitely.

Zi Yanran’s gaze remained fixed on the joyful scene in the backyard, her face alight with smiles.

Upon hearing her father’s question, she nodded casually, as if answering the most ordinary query.

“Yes, that’s right.”

However, upon hearing this, Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi’s hearts churned like a stormy sea, creating immense turmoil.

Su Xiaoshi couldn’t help but exclaim, “How—how is that possible? Are you sure? Isn’t she—isn’t she a girl?”

Her eyes were wide, as if she had just heard something utterly unbelievable.

Zi Yanran looked at her parents, whose faces were contorted in shock, and offered a helpless smile before patiently explaining, “She’s an ability user, Mom and Dad. You have to understand that ability users can’t be judged by normal perceptions. When we were together back then, she was indeed a boy. But because her body is quite special, she completely transformed into a girl around last year.”

With Zi Yanran having explained things so clearly, Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi naturally found it difficult to harbor any further doubts.

However, a new problem now presented itself: their daughter’s partner was also a girl.

If this were to get out, their grandchildren would essentially have two mothers. How would they explain this to the outside world in the future?

Frowning, Zi Ye asked with a worried expression, “This is—this is truly incredible. Are you really not bothered by her current gender?”

Zi Yanran listened, then shook her head without hesitation, her tone resolute. “I don’t mind. What I’ve always wanted was never just a man. If I only wanted a man, why would I have waited and searched for so long? Mom and Dad, please just accept our relationship. I don’t want to make things awkward for you.”

The moment Zi Yanran spoke, Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi became displeased.

Zi Ye said with a serious expression, “What kind of talk is that? While this matter is truly astonishing, she is, after all, Xiao Xuan and Xiao Yi’s biological father. That cannot be denied. We’re not telling you to separate from her; we’re simply urging you two to think carefully about how you’ll face the world in the future.”

Zi Yanran spread her hands helplessly, saying with a touch of resignation, “What do the world’s opinions matter to me? Years ago, I already deeply experienced their views. What did their opinions contain, other than malice?”

At this point, Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi understood that continuing the discussion would be pointless.

After all, because of this very matter, their family had already fallen out with most of their relatives and friends. Only they truly knew the bitterness of that experience.

After lunch, Bai Mengqi and Zi Yanran prepared to return to the company for work.

While in the car, Zi Yanran felt there were some matters she needed to inform Bai Mengqi about. So, she began, “Oh? I’ve already told Mom and Dad about our relationship.”

Bai Mengqi was startled upon hearing this. Only then did she realize why Zi Ye and Su Xiaoshi had suddenly become so warm during lunch.

Zi Yanran looked at her startled expression, soothingly saying with a smile, “Don’t react so strongly. You don’t need to care what others think. Our family of four just needs to live our own lives well.”

Bai Mengqi truly had little say in this matter. She could only nod helplessly, indicating that she would try her best to respect Zi Yanran’s approach.

Soon, the car pulled up in front of the group’s building.

The moment they stepped into the building, a front desk employee rushed over to report, “President Zi, someone is here to see you?”

Zi Yanran paused slightly, wondering who it could be. Without further delay, she immediately led Bai Mengqi towards the guest reception area.

When they arrived at the reception room, Zi Yanran froze for a moment. A familiar figure was sitting leisurely, sipping tea. She couldn’t help but blurt out, “Auntie? What are you doing here?”

Bai Mengqi’s expression, however, was one of even greater astonishment, for she recognized the person before her at a glance.

She muttered inwardly, ‘It’s her? Isn’t this the female ability user police officer I saved back then? She’s Yanran’s aunt?’

Indeed, the visitor was Su Ruoxi.

Su Ruoxi was Su Xiaoshi’s younger sister, making her Zi Yanran’s maternal aunt. She was roughly the same age as Zi Yanran.

Four years ago, it was also she who led the search for Zi Yanran when she was controlled by a fox demon.

The reason Zi Yanran and her family were so knowledgeable about ability users was precisely because a rather formidable ability user existed among the Zi family’s relatives.