Chapter 7: Fell Into a Nest of Beauties

Chapter 7: Fell Into a Nest of Beauties

Her voice was clear and soothing, like a mountain stream flowing through the woods, or the gentle sway of apricot blossoms in early spring.

"Mingchao, go inside."

Lu Father’s face lit up with the warm, contented smile of a family finally reunited.

Lu Mingchao nodded and followed her father into the courtyard.

"Grandmother, Mother, this is Mingchao, Lu Mingchao."

"My younger sister, isn't she pretty?" Lu Lei, her brother, eyes smiled into thin slits, brimming with pride and joy.

Lu Mingchao looked at each of them in turn.

The elderly woman, leaning on a cane, looked frail and pale, as if even a light breeze could knock her over.

The middle-aged woman, who bore a striking resemblance to her, had tears in her eyes and her shoulders trembled slightly. She held the hand of a young boy who was looking at her with his head tilted. His features were like something out of a painting, his eyes clear and innocent, untouched by the world’s troubles, as if nothing could taint his purity.

Standing on the far right was a man in a blue robe, lean and tall, standing in the light snow, like a delicate, ink-wash painting come to life.

The only thing that seemed alive in that serene scene was the look of astonishment in his eyes.

Lu Mingchao couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful everyone in the family was.

Even Lu Chunsheng and Lu Lei, who spent their days working hard in the fields, hadn’t lost their natural beauty.

Though time had taken its toll on Lu Chunsheng and roughened Lu Lei, their inherent beauty remained strong.

This place is a food lover’s paradise; I could probably eat three more bowls of rice at every meal.

"Big sister seems different."

Lu Xin broke the silence, tilting his head and blinking curiously, as if trying to figure something out.

"Is it really big sister?"

The young boy asked hesitantly.

The middle-aged woman’s voice wavered with emotion as she nodded, "Yes, it’s me, your big sister."

Without hesitation, the boy broke free from the others and ran toward Lu Mingchao, his face lit up with a sweet smile. "Big sister!"

He drew out the word 'big sister,' his voice soft and sweet, like a freshly baked pastry still warm from the oven.

Lu Mingchao thought to herself, 'Maybe this is my reward for all the good I did in my past life. Thank you, fate.'

Imagine a boy with flawless features, rosy lips, and eyes so clear and bright they made your heart skip a beat. He blinked up at her, calling her 'big sister' with a voice full of warmth and affection.

In his eyes, there was nothing but her.

No one could understand the joy she felt as a big sister.

Without hesitation, Lu Mingchao decided she would take care of this little brother.

Though the boy’s mind wasn’t fully developed, his beauty was undeniable.

She couldn’t help but judge by appearance; after all, she wasn’t made of stone.

Lu Mingchao gave a quick, wide smile and raised her hand to rub the young boy's head. "Xiao Xin."

The warmth of her hand made her heart melt.

The young boy's eyes lit up all of a sudden, brighter than the snow-covered landscape.

He turned and eagerly shared his joy. "This sister likes me."

"I like this sister too."

Lu Xin's mental development had stopped, but he wasn't foolish.

With a simple mind, his happiness was pure.

The boy's few words unintentionally broke the initial strangeness, bridging the gap between them.

"Quick, come inside," urged Mother Lu, wiping away a tear and rushing forward. "It's so good to have you back."

"Your head?"

As soon as they entered the house, Mother Lu carefully brushed the snow off Lu Mingchao's clothes and pointed at her forehead, asking with concern.

Lu Mingchao: ……

Explaining the real reason for the injury would be too painful.

She couldn't bring herself to admit that she had threatened to die just to stay at the marquis's mansion.

Would she rather face cold stares and tears in the marquis's mansion than return to her humble life as a farmer's daughter?

But in all honesty, the moment she opened her eyes, she had decided without hesitation to come back.

Lu Mingchao hesitated.

It felt like swallowing a bitter pill without being able to explain the pain.

"I accidentally bumped it."

"I accidentally bumped it."

Lu Chunsheng and Lu Lei, father and son, exchanged a glance and chimed in together.

"Yunniang, the roads were icy this morning, and I slipped while walking."

"Yes, that's exactly how it happened," Lu Lei added seriously.

Lu Chunsheng and Lu Lei had a simple thought: no matter what Lu Mingchao had thought before leaving, the moment she decided to walk through that small side door and come with them, she became family in need of protection and care.

Lu Mingchao cast a grateful look at Lu Chunsheng and Lu Lei.

Yunniang, with red eyes, said, "It's okay to come back slowly. There's no need to rush and get injured like this."

"Yes, at your age, you should know better," added Grandma Lu, coughing and giving her son and grandson a disapproving look.

"Sister, I miss Grandma and Mom," said Lu Xin, tightly holding onto Lu Mingchao's sleeve and mumbling with a silly smile.

Lu Mingchao sighed, thinking how many face-saving gestures were being offered to her.

Lu Yao, who had remained silent, gave a barely noticeable glance.

"I wanted to return early," said the oblivious Lu Mingchao, taking the hint and playing along.

"The injury isn't serious, I've applied some medicine, and it's almost healed."

After Grandma Lu's frail body could no longer withstand standing and she went back to lie down in the room, Lu Chunsheng and Lu Lei, father and son, put on their straw raincapes and went to the foot of the mountain to collect firewood. Meanwhile, Yunniang pulled Lu Mingchao close, her heart aching for her daughter.

Until Lu Mingchao could no longer hold back a yawn, her eyes tearing up.

"We got so caught up in talking that we forgot Chaochau has been on the road for days."

"Chaochau, go take a nap, I'll make some food," said Yunniang.

"Today is a good day, we should celebrate."

Yunniang felt the soft cloud-like fabric in her palm, the intricate embroidery adorning it, and it felt almost too hot to handle.

This heat quickly spread from her fingertips to her heart.

Yunniang wondered if her delicate daughter could endure such a tough life.

In the end, Lu Mingchao didn't get to sleep.

The courtyard door was pounded loudly, and amidst the wind and snow, a noisy and somewhat sarcastic voice drifted in, "Chunsheng's family, I heard your daughter has been found?"

"Bring her out so I can take a good look. Is she some high-and-mighty city girl, so special she has horns on her head, or something?"

Lu Mingchao furrowed her brow in annoyance, the sharp and loud voice like a cacophony piercing her ears.

Could the hostility be any more obvious?

This situation was getting stranger by the minute.

Before the Lu family could explain to Lu Mingchao, a middle-aged woman walked in with a cold swagger, as if entering her own home.

When she clearly saw Lu Mingchao's face, which resembled red plum blossoms covered in snow, pretty yet slightly cold, her eyes widened in surprise.

This...

That sweet girl Lu Miao was already quite pretty, but this one returning from outside was even more striking.

"You, you..."

The middle-aged woman swallowed, her confidence suddenly faltering.

She had a vague feeling that her plans might not go as she hoped.

Yunniang stepped forward, protecting Lu Mingchao behind her. "Mrs. Feng, this is my daughter, Lu Mingchao."

The middle-aged woman's eyes flashed with a glint of cunning as a smile spread across her face. "No wonder she's a young miss from the capital city, so pretty. Her fair and delicate face makes people want to eat an extra two bowls of rice just looking at her."

It was well-known in Changxi Village that Lu Miao insisted on going to the capital city to find her family.

"I heard that city girls are very particular about their reputation. Surely she wouldn't cling to Xiao Xie and fight to be a stepmother, would she?" The middle-aged woman finally revealed her true intentions.

"What kind of strange path is she taking?"