Wen Lin — the mischievous, talkative one.
Here's
Morning crept in through half-drawn curtains. Xu Ling was already awake before the birds began. Two small bodies pressed close against her, breathing softly. Wen Kai's tiny hand clutched her sleeve, and Wen Lin had somehow twisted sideways, a blanket over his face.
She pulled it down gently. "You'll suffocate like that," she murmured.
Wen Lin grunted and turned the other way. Wen Kai didn't move at all.
A soft knock followed.
"Miss Xu? Madam Wang says breakfast is ready."
Xu Ling smiled faintly. "We'll be down soon."
The maid left. Xu Ling looked at her boys again — her heart softening. "Five more minutes," she whispered, knowing she'd give them ten.
---
Downstairs, chaos reigned.
The Wang estate never woke quietly. Maids carried trays, a cook yelled about burned dumplings, and Wang Yi — barefoot — was stealing bacon from the pan.
Madam Wang swatted him with a napkin. "You're thirty years old, and you still eat like a thief."
"Experience," Wang Yi said, dodging her. "Besides, Ling'er's twins like bacon."
"They don't have teeth for bacon!"
"They can smell it. Same thing."
When Xu Ling walked in, laughter followed her.
"Good morning," Madam Wang greeted warmly. "You look pale. Did the twins keep you up?"
"They didn't. I kept them up," Xu Ling said, settling both boys on her lap.
"Smart woman," Wang Yi said. "Train them early."
"Train yourself first," Wang Zheng's calm voice cut in.
The table went silent. Wang Zheng had entered unnoticed, already dressed for the day — crisp shirt, dark eyes unreadable.
Wang Yi grinned. "Morning, brother. Nice of you to join the living."
"Eat," Wang Zheng said simply, taking his seat.
Xu Ling hid a smile. Wang Yi always teased, but Wang Zheng always won without trying.
---
Halfway through breakfast, Wen Lin decided to throw his spoon. It hit Wang Yi square in the chest.
"Rebellion!" Wang Yi shouted dramatically, clutching his shirt. "He's just like you, brother — violent when silent."
Madam Wang tried not to laugh. "You deserved that."
"Why?"
"For existing loudly."
Everyone laughed again, even Xu Ling — quietly, freely.
When the noise faded, Madam Wang looked at her fondly. "Ling'er, what will you do today?"
"Maybe stay in with the boys," Xu Ling replied.
"You should take a walk," Wang Yi said quickly. "Fresh air helps sanity. I'm living proof."
"That's debatable," Wang Zheng said dryly.
Madam Wang chuckled. "Let her decide. Xu Ling?"
Xu Ling hesitated. "A walk sounds good."
"Perfect," Wang Yi said. "Go with my brother. He's rusting."
Wang Zheng raised a brow. "You're banned from giving advice."
But he stood anyway. "I'll walk with her."
Madam Wang smiled knowingly. "Take the long route by the pond."
---
Outside, the garden stretched wide and still. A gardener waved, then returned to trimming hedges. The scent of jasmine floated in the breeze.
Xu Ling walked slowly, Wen Kai in her arms, Wen Lin toddling ahead under a nanny's careful eye.
"They've grown fast," Wang Zheng said beside her.
"Too fast," she said softly. "I blink, and they change."
He glanced at her. "You're good with them."
"I'm trying," she replied.
"They trust you completely."
"I hope they never stop."
A silence fell between them — not uncomfortable, just full.
After a while, Wang Zheng spoke again. "You don't talk much about before."
Her steps faltered. "There's not much to say."
"Then tell me what you like now."
She looked up. "Now?"
"Yes."
She thought. "I like mornings like this. Simple ones. When no one's looking for me."
He nodded. "Then I'll make sure no one does."
Her lips parted, but no words came. His tone was steady — not promise, not threat, just truth.
Wen Lin's giggle cut the moment short. He'd found a butterfly and was chasing it in circles.
Xu Ling laughed quietly. "He's brave."
"Or reckless," Wang Zheng said. "Like his uncle."
"Which one?"
"The loud one."
They both laughed.
---
By afternoon, chaos returned in full force.
Wang Yi had taken the twins outside to "teach them bravery" and somehow ended up falling into the koi pond. Again.
Xu Ling ran over, horrified. "What happened?"
"I was demonstrating balance!" Wang Yi said, soaked and shivering. "They pushed me!"
Wen Kai blinked. Wen Lin clapped.
Even the maids were laughing.
Madam Wang sighed. "Yi, you're a walking disaster."
Wang Zheng walked by, expression blank. "Do you need a towel or a new brain?"
"I need sympathy," Wang Yi groaned.
"Unavailable."
The whole household burst out laughing again.
Xu Ling shook her head, holding Wen Lin close. "They'll learn bad habits from you."
"They'll learn fun," Wang Yi corrected proudly.
---
Later that evening, Xu Ling played the piano while the twins napped beside her. A quiet tune filled the hall, soft enough to make the maids pause as they passed.
Wang Zheng leaned against the doorway, arms crossed.
"You play well," he said after a while.
She smiled faintly. "My grandmother used to say it calmed storms."
"Maybe that's why this house feels different now."
She looked at him. "It's your home, not mine."
"It can be both."
"Nothing lasts forever, Wang Zheng."
"Some things do," he replied.
His voice had weight to it, a steadiness that unsettled her.
She looked away. "Don't say that. Please."
He didn't argue.
---
Night deepened. Upstairs, Xu Ling tucked Wen Lin under the blanket and kissed Wen Kai's forehead.
"Sleep, little one," she whispered. "Mama's here."
They sighed and drifted off.
She sat by the window afterward, staring into the dark garden. Somewhere beyond those hills was the world she'd left — the one that would tear her peace apart if it ever found her.
She whispered, "We'll be safe. No one knows where we are."
But far away, threads were already tightening.
---
At the Chan estate, Chen Heo handed his father a sealed report. "There's movement overseas. Someone matching her build, with twins."
General Chen's jaw tightened. "Quietly. No noise. If she's alive, we protect, not expose."
"And if she's with someone?"
"Then he's either her savior or her shield," the old man said. "Either way, she's still ours to protect."
---
Meanwhile, at the Li Corporation, Li Wei stood before the boardroom window. The skyline glittered, but he didn't see it.
"Sir, the Golden Spoon invitation list—"
"Cancel it."
The assistant froze. "But Madam Li—"
"Cancel everything."
He turned, eyes dark. "There's no point entertaining strangers when the person I need to face isn't even here."
The room fell silent.
He looked out again. The night felt heavy, but beneath it, something inside him whispered her name.
---
Back in the Wang estate, the lights dimmed. Wang Zheng was still in his study, papers untouched.
From upstairs, the faint hum of Xu Ling's voice drifted down — a lullaby, soft and steady.
He closed his eyes briefly. "You'll be safe," he murmured.
Outside, the wind stirred the wisteria again, carrying both comfort and warning.
Because peace, in their world, was never meant to last.