Chapter 53: The Little Ghost Returned Home

The matters concerning the Xie Family came to a temporary close for now. The truth about Xie Ningwan’s parents’ car accident from back then was undergoing a review and case reversal in an orderly manner, which had already become an established fact.

The masterminds, Xie Ming and Xie Hui, had already been imprisoned awaiting trial. The other remnants of the Xie Family, each harboring their own schemes, were also worthless. Xie Ningwan decisively cut ties with them without showing any mercy, including Old Master Xie.

That day, Old Master Xie left the office in the Xie Building as if he had suddenly aged ten years. His body, supported by a cane, became even more hunched.

Assistant Lei arranged for someone to send him back to the Xie Family Old Manor. On the surface, it was said to be for enjoying his later years in peace, but in reality, everyone knew that without Xie Ningwan’s support, his later years would hardly be peaceful.

Xie Ningwan acted with lightning speed and decisiveness. He reclaimed all the shares of the Xie Corporation that originally belonged to him and his parents, holding them entirely in his own hands and wielding sole authority as he stood at the pinnacle.

The upheaval in the Xie Family caused a storm throughout the city, with everyone buzzing about it.

Those in the know gossiped in private. Some sighed over Old President Xie and Madam Xie’s car accident, others discussed the insidiousness of Xie Ming and Xie Hui as well as Old Master Xie’s ruthlessness… In the end, the conversation inexplicably turned to Xie Ningwan’s romantic situation.

“It was Old Master Xie who said it. He claimed President Xie made such a big fuss for the sake of his little lover.”

“You still believe what he says? Ridiculous.”

“Of course I don’t believe it, but apparently President Xie really has been involved with someone lately. Everyone at the Xie Corporation knows—it’s the protagonist from that previous kidnapping case.”

“Who is it? From which family? To be with President Xie at a time like this—that’s really something.”

“It’s a boy. They say President Xie treats him like a precious treasure, always keeping him right under his nose.”

“Oh, I remember now! Isn’t it that one President Xie brought to his side at the banquet before…”

“…”

The “very capable” Song Yaoyao was at home picking out clothes, preparing to head out.

Two days had passed since he and Xie Ningwan got together, and everything had settled. Under Song Huaichuan’s arrangements, he was about to return to the Song Family to meet his parents.

This was Song Yaoyao’s first time meeting his parents, and he felt very nervous. Xie Ningwan accompanied him at his side. He tried on several outfits and asked Xie Ningwan if they looked good.

“This one is perfect.” Xie Ningwan straightened the shirt and vest on Song Yaoyao, fastened the button at his collar, and saw his lively brows and eyes, his pure and refined temperament—just like a well-behaved and noble little young master. He leaned down and kissed his forehead.

He soothingly embraced Song Yaoyao and patted his back. “It’s just meeting Mom and Dad. Baby, don’t be scared.”

“Mm.” Song Yaoyao buried his head in the hollow of his shoulder.

After changing clothes and getting ready, Song Huaichuan was already waiting in the car.

In the extended black sedan, Song Yaoyao and Xie Ningwan sat on one side, while Song Huaichuan sat opposite. The emotions that had barely calmed over the past few days surged up again. Whenever his gaze fell on Song Yaoyao’s face, he could not help but redden his eyes.

Yet he could not bear not to look at Song Yaoyao. He crossed his legs, rested his fingers on his face to cover his eyes, not wanting to lose composure in front of Song Yaoyao.

“Brother.” Song Yaoyao’s fingers twitched, twisting together as he pursed his lips and called out to him with concern.

“Mm.” Song Huaichuan’s eyes reddened slightly as he smiled at him.

“I’m heading home right now, Brother. Don’t be sad.” Song Yaoyao said.

As soon as he said this, Song Huaichuan’s eyes reddened even more. He turned his head, blinked, and beckoned to Song Yaoyao. “Yaoyao, come here.”

Song Yaoyao got up and sat beside Song Huaichuan, whose hand gripped his tightly.

Song Yaoyao also held his hand and felt Song Huaichuan lift his other hand to touch his head, then slide down to caress his face.

Eyebrows, eyes… Song Huaichuan carefully memorized them, comparing to his memories.

They were exactly the same as when he was little.

“While you were gone, Mom and Dad missed you a lot too. They’ve been looking forward to seeing you.” Song Huaichuan held Song Yaoyao’s hand reassuringly. “Don’t be nervous.”

Song Yaoyao: “Mm.”

Song Huaichuan comforted Song Yaoyao not to be nervous, yet he held his hand all the way without letting go.

The Song Family Old Manor was even more secluded than the Xie Family Old Manor, far from the city center and situated halfway up the mountainside amid deep green forests. The environment was beautiful and serene, yet it seemed somewhat desolate.

As the sedan turned on the mountain road, Song Yaoyao turned his head to look at the tall, straight fir trees outside the window. His gaze swept through the gaps in the woods and over the mountain wilderness, catching the fresh, moist scent of grass and trees.

“Do you remember it?” Song Huaichuan asked hoarsely.

Song Yaoyao turned back and slowly shook his head hesitantly. He had no special memory of this forest.

Song Huaichuan lowered his brows and silently gripped his hand tighter.

The mountain road wound upward, and the view of the wilderness grew broader the higher they went, overlooking half the city in a picturesque scene.

After proceeding for a while longer, a low-key yet luxurious classical Chinese-style villa emerged from amid the mountain, quiet and solitary in the surrounding deep green.

“We’re home, Yaoyao.” Song Huaichuan’s fingers tightened, his throat choked up.

“Okay.” Song Yaoyao’s throat felt a bit congested too.

“President Xie, please.” Once the car stopped steadily and the door opened, Song Huaichuan leaned out first and invited Xie Ningwan to exit, then took Song Yaoyao’s hand. “Yaoyao, come.”

The driver waited respectfully outside, holding an umbrella over their heads for the three of them.

“Yaoyao.”

After Xie Ningwan got out, he also took Song Yaoyao’s other hand. With both “brothers” leading him, Song Yaoyao stepped out of the car.

As soon as his heels touched the ground steadily, several figures hurried out from the wide-open doors of the classical villa.

“My child!”

Among the two leading figures, a lady with a shawl over her shoulders and a gentle, elegant demeanor covered her mouth and could not stop her tears the moment she saw Song Yaoyao.

She ran halfway, then stopped in place upon seeing Song Yaoyao, heartbroken and crying. The aunt behind her hurriedly supported her arm, while the tall middle-aged man beside her embraced her shoulders.

Song Yaoyao stood in place, his blood turning cold and freezing, unsure of how to react. Tears welled up at the corners of his eyes, his lashes trembled, and suddenly tears fell.

“It’s Mom.” Song Huaichuan beside him had reddened eyes too as he gripped Song Yaoyao’s hand tightly.

The gentle lady clutched her chest, took a few breaths to calm herself, and looked at Song Yaoyao again. Tears still streamed down as she choked up so much that her legs went weak and she could not walk.

The middle-aged man beside her also gazed at Song Yaoyao, his face showing grief and intense emotion with tear tracks.

“Go on.” Xie Ningwan’s broad, warm, and firm hand rested on Song Yaoyao’s back as he said softly.

Song Yaoyao’s mind went blank. Led by Song Huaichuan, he walked forward two steps in a daze, and the lady and middle-aged man ahead ran toward him again.

Before Song Yaoyao could react, he was pulled into an embrace filled with warmth and a faint, clear fragrance.

The person hugging him did so with great force, but as if afraid of hurting him, only clutched tightly at his clothes without really applying pressure to his body.

Song Yaoyao lifted his slightly wet lashes and looked at the lady before him. She was graceful and refined, with traces of time cruelly left on her—fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes that did not diminish her beauty.

Her eyes were cried red, and even as she held Song Yaoyao, she could not make a sound, just shedding tears. The middle-aged man also joined the hug, embracing both her and Song Yaoyao.

Song Yaoyao turned his head slightly to look at him. The man resembled Song Huaichuan, but his face too bore the marks of time, carrying the unique dignity of authority granted by age.

Yet that face, now facing Song Yaoyao, was streaked with tears, devoid of composure.

Song Huaichuan took a handkerchief from the aunt beside him, wiped his eyes, squeezed Song Yaoyao’s hand in his palm, and smiled hoarsely as he introduced them. “Yaoyao, this is Mom, this is Dad.”

Song Yaoyao followed him softly. “…Mom, Dad.”

The Song couple broke into heartbroken sobs. Song Yaoyao took the initiative, slowly and tightly hugging their bodies. The three embraced, and Song Huaichuan joined in as well.

They stood outside for a long time before barely calming their emotions and moving indoors.

Madam Song had broken down emotionally earlier. Sitting on the rosewood sofa, she still could not stop her tears, dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief from time to time. In a hoarse voice, she greeted Song Yaoyao and Xie Ningwan.

“Yaoyao, I’m Mom.” After saying this, her gaze reddened again as it lingered on Song Yaoyao’s face for a long time. She turned to Xie Ningwan beside him. “Hello, President Xie.”

“Hello, Aunt. Just call me Ningwan.” Xie Ningwan replied respectfully and politely.

“I saw you when you were little.” Madam Song said gently. “We knew your parents. You weren’t very old when Yaoyao had his accident, and later…”

She covered her mouth with the handkerchief and cried again.

Xie Ningwan was also moved. He lowered his gaze to Song Yaoyao, who looked back at him and gently patted the back of his hand before stepping forward to comfort Madam Song.

Former President Song also suppressed his earlier emotions, sat in a chair, first looked at Song Yaoyao, then conversed with Xie Ningwan.

An aunt came over to serve tea. The scene of the parent-child reunion had left the surrounding housekeepers and aunts unable to hold back their tears; now everyone’s eyes were red.

“Thank you.” Xie Ningwan said.

“You’re too polite, President Xie.” The aunt replied.

“By the way, Yaoyao, do you remember what home looks like? Since you left, nothing in the house has changed.” Madam Song hurriedly took Song Yaoyao’s hand and asked hopefully. “And this is Aunt Ye, who’s been taking care of you since you were born. Do you recognize her?”

Song Yaoyao turned at her words to the kind-faced aunt standing by the tea table with red eyes, pursed his lips, and gently shook his head.

Everyone present dimmed a little, but soon Madam Song rallied her spirits and said through choked sobs, “It’s okay. You’re back now. We’ll get to know each other again. It’s okay.”

“Yes, Yaoyao is back.” Song Huaichuan, who had seen Song Yaoyao earlier, had calmer emotions than his parents and now comforted them.

“He’s back…”

The Song couple exchanged a glance, their eyes reddening again.

Not wanting to lose composure too much, they had Song Huaichuan first take Song Yaoyao and Xie Ningwan upstairs to tour the house and Song Yaoyao’s old room, leaving the two of them downstairs to compose themselves.

Song Yaoyao himself had not yet come back to his senses, his mind in a fog as Song Huaichuan led him and Xie Ningwan upstairs.

Step by step up the carefully renovated wooden stairs, into the corridor. When he opened the door to one of the rooms, Song Yaoyao suddenly felt a bit dizzy.

It was as if he were stepping on clouds, that light, floating sensation from when he had just turned into a little ghost, unable to distinguish reality from illusion.

The room’s decorations, layout, every little ornament, every toy… all felt very familiar.

“Yaoyao, this is the little bear doll you loved playing with the most when you were little…”

Song Yaoyao’s mind buzzed, his vision went white, and he could hardly hear what Song Huaichuan was introducing anymore.