Rebirth from the Ashes

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“It’s okay.” Li Yuan smiled and carried Toffeecito handing it back to Yun Jinping.

Toffeecito was an intelligent cat. As if it could take a hint, Toffeecito no longer clung onto Li Yuan and obediently returned to Yun Jinping’s embrace. It even buried its head into her arms as though it was shy.

Yun Jinping was speechless. The furry kid probably mistook the man for Jin Yu. With her gaze moving to the man’s legs, Yun Jinping lamented to herself what a pity it was for a young man to be immobilized.

Li Yuan took another glance at Toffeecito and nodded at Yun Jinping before wheeling himself away.

Yun Jinping tapped Toffeecito’s fluffy head. What was going on with this feline? Since it refused to get down from her arms, she had no choice but to carry the darling all the way through.

After traveling a distance, Yun Jinping looked back at the bypassers on the street. The man was nowhere to be found. Fixated on Toffeecito, she could not shake off a strange feeling.

Was it only a case of mistaken identity?

Her mind flew back to when Toffeecito was rubbing against the man’s hand, with every expression and gesture reflecting trust and affection. It would never behave so intimately toward a stranger.

Toffeecito was clingy and up for belly rubs with the family, but it would turn its back against strangers. It would hiss at people who tried to touch it, let alone approach them on its own accord.

Perhaps she was getting ahead of herself. It might just be that Toffeecito and the man clicked. Certain people were a natural pet magnet and for all she knew, the man might have that sort of attraction to furry animals.

Yun Jinping brought Toffeecito to the market for groceries before heading back home. Just then, she picked up on activity next door, thinking that Jin Yu had returned. However, something did not feel quite right on second thought.

Having found his family, Jin Yu would not return on his own. Yun Jinping might not know the rest of the family to comment, but Xuan would definitely tag along too. It would not be so quiet next door if he was back.

Toffeecito leaped out of the cart and crawled up the wall the moment of their return. In a split second, it had disappeared onto the other side of the wall.

The little fella took off in the brief second Yun Jinping took her eyes away. Afraid there might be a thief next door, she put down the groceries at hand and climbed up the ladder that was often used by Shen Xi for once.

What she saw next left her head spinning. A familiar figure in a wheelchair rolled into the living room with Toffeecito on his lap. She climbed down the ladder in distraught so as not to be spotted.

It was that man.

He was the man she and Toffeecito bumped into at the community gate! It was hard to forget an Adonis-like man with such a unique bearing to him.

Yun Jinping was sent into a tailspin. The man was young, probably in his twenties, and not an older man at all.

Did she get it wrong? The next-door neighbor was never Jin Yu but this man instead? Was he the weirdo Xixi was referring to?

Yun Jinping did not know who to go to. Xixi would find out if she were to ask the man next door while Xuan was not reliable in keeping his mouth shut. Should she ask Jin Yu? Yun Jinping was not close with him though.

Although Xixi was much more sensible since leaving the Su family, she was still at the rebellious age, craving for a love story. By the way that Xixi kept things from her and Old Shen, it was clear she did not want them to know.

It would only throw Xixi into a defensive mode if Yun Jinping were to question her. There were too many cases of parents having a fallout with their kids over such a matter. It was Yun Jinping’s worst nightmare if things took a turn for the worse.

She should take her time and observe the situation.

Now at seventeen, Xixi was advancing to adulthood in another two months. She had the right to pick who to love. She deserved to fall heads over heels in love whenever she felt it was right. Yun Jinping never thought of stopping her or getting in her way.

In fact, Yun Jinping would not make things difficult for Xixi like other parents would, even if the latter was in a relationship now.

Yet, why could she not find a young and healthy boy her age? Any of her students like Pei Xu and Yu Qiubai would do.

The man next door was out of the question. Among other things, he was a cripple. No parent would not wish their children to find happiness with an equal.

With him paralyzed from the waist down, the man could not even take care of himself. How was he supposed to care for her for the rest of her life? Yun Jinping did not want her daughter to be tied down by a handicap.

Shen Zhangqing was carrying two bags of things into the house when he saw his wife staring into a blank space in the courtyard as though she lost her soul. Worried, he drew close. “What’s wrong, honey?”

“Nothing.” Yun Jinping shook her head.

It was best not to let her husband know about it before she was sure of the situation and the relationship between Xixi and the man. Since Old Shen tended to act on impulse, what if he were to rush next door and stir a fatal scene?

“You look pale. Let’s go to the hospital.” Shen Zhangqing put down his things and dragged her out.

“I said it was nothing.” Stopping him, Yun Jinping made an excuse. “I might have low blood sugar. I’ll be fine after a rest. Why are you home so early?”

“I postponed the afternoon meeting.” Shen Zhangqing held her with one hand and carried the bags with the other. “I bought you and Xixi some local specialties.”

While setting foot in the living room, the pair heard the front door being flung open.

Shen Zhangqing went over and found Yu Yuanxi helping Granny Yu into the house. Taken aback for a moment, he broke into a smile and happily said, “Honey, Yuanxi is here.”

Yun Jinping bolted out. With tears welling up her eyes at his presence, she was all choked up for words. “Oh, you’re here.”

She did not want to intrude while he was busy with his filming. Although they had not had the chance to meet ever since the reunion dinner, Yun Jinping did not want to be a bother and held back from calling him.

The kid was too kind and sensible. He gave her reassurance by making the initiative to call and video-call between schedules.

Yu Yuanxi nodded his head. Facing their expectant looks, he hesitated before choppily uttering, “Mom, Dad.”

He had not gotten used to the new form of address.

Granny Yu handed over the things Yu Yuanxi bought to Yun Jinping while grinning from ear to ear. “Yuanxi bought these local products and presents for you.”

The only thing that concerned and worried Granny Yu in this world was her grandson. She feared he would be left alone should one day she breathe her last. It was great that he found his parents as Granny Yu could die in peace now, knowing he was in good hands..