Volume One, Chapter 101: Xing Le Returns Home

“I want to draw a definitive line myself. From now on, I will be a completely new person,” Xing Le declared.

Chi Xingwan could clearly sense a tremor in her body as she spoke, her eyes harboring a fear she desperately tried to conceal.

Yet beneath it all was an even stronger resolve.

“Alright, I’ll introduce you to the person in charge in Qinghu Province. You remember Xue Cheng, right? Let him take you under his wing at work.”

Xing Le nodded. Although she hadn’t met Xue Cheng since waking, her memories from when she was mentally impaired remained intact, making her more familiar with him than most.

“But,” Chi Xingwan added, “before joining the mission, you should go home once. After all, I promised to send you back within ten days.”

Hearing the words “go home,” a wave of unease suddenly washed over Xing Le.

Chu Fangfei rose and sat beside her, taking her hand gently. “It’s okay. Your parents love you very much. You don’t need to be afraid to go back.”

Xing Le gave a bitter smile. “It’s not fear, really. It’s just a sudden feeling of hesitation before returning home. But I am going back.”

On the fifth day after leaving, Xing Le was set to return home.

Xu Mingyue waited with Mr. and Mrs. Xing at the doorstep, while inside, Xing Liang was restless.

“Why isn’t she here yet?” Mrs. Xing clasped her hands near her mouth, anxiety etched on her face.

Mr. Xing lit another cigarette. “What’s the rush? I heard it takes two hours on the road. It’s only been an hour and a half, so we still have to wait a bit.”

Mrs. Xing ignored him and turned to Xu Mingyue. “Mingyue, do you really think Lele has recovered?”

Xu Mingyue smiled. “Didn’t we just talk on the phone last night? How could that be fake?”

Mrs. Xing’s eyes brimmed with tears. “We did talk on the phone, but we didn’t see her with our own eyes…”

After all, it had been more than ten years since they last heard Xing Le speak, and the phone line was distorted enough that they couldn’t be sure if it was truly her voice.

“Ah, here she comes,” Xu Mingyue said excitedly. She had already contacted Chi Xingwan and knew the license plate number.

“Lele!” Before the car even pulled up, Mrs. Xing rushed forward.

Mr. Xing trembled, dropping his cigarette. He didn’t bother to pick it up and stepped forward alongside her.

Chu Fangfei parked the car carefully and opened the back door. Behind her, Xing Le stepped out, clutching a small backpack and moving cautiously.

“Dad! Mom!”

The moment she saw her parents, all her emotions poured out as sorrow. She knelt down stiffly.

Years of hardship had transformed her once vigorous, elite parents into elderly figures with gray temples.

“Mom, Dad, I’m Lele. I’m back. All these years, I… I’m sorry,” she said.

Mrs. Xing knelt too, trembling hands gently caressing Xing Le’s face. “Lele, it really is you. My good daughter, you’ve finally come home.”

“Mom, I’m back. I won’t let you worry anymore,” tears streaming down her face.

The mother and daughter embraced on their knees.

“Such shame, what on earth has she been doing out there?” Mr. Xing muttered, but secretly turned away to wipe his tears.

More and more villagers gathered, their whispers growing louder.

“Is the little girl from the Xing family really cured? She was mentally impaired for over ten years. How could she possibly get better? Where did they find such a famous doctor?”

“I heard it wasn’t a doctor but some master who performed a ritual to bring back her lost soul.”

“Didn’t they spend a fortune on a master before? I heard it failed.”

“This time it’s a different one, some recluse with great skills—very hard to invite.”

Wiping her tears, Xing Le helped her mother up. “Mom, let’s go home first.”

“All right, let’s go home. Lele, the house hasn’t changed. It’s just like before. You won’t feel strange.”

Rising, Xing Le bowed deeply to the neighbors. The murmurs immediately ceased, and silence fell.

“Uncles and aunts, thank you all for your care over the years. I am fully recovered now. If you ever need my help, please don’t hesitate to ask. I am more than willing to assist,” her gentle yet resolute voice resonated clearly.

Only then did everyone realize that the girl who had been mentally lost for a decade was truly well again.

Mr. Xing composed himself and declared loudly, “Today is a joyous day for the Xing family. We can’t entertain everyone properly now, but in a few days, we’ll hold a feast at the village hall and invite the entire village.”

“Alright, let’s all disperse and not disturb their family reunion,” someone said, and the crowd gradually broke apart.

Xu Mingyue added, “Lele, you should go home first. We’ll gather again later.”

“All right, Mingyue. Thank you for everything over the years.”

“I didn’t do much,” she said, scratching her head, then led Chi Xingwan and Chu Fangfei back to her house.

Inside the Xing household, Xing Liang had heard the commotion outside but was too afraid to come out.

Seeing Xing Le enter accompanied by their parents, a glimmer of hope in his heart finally dissolved.

Xing Le’s eyes were clear, no longer vacant as before. Her movements were natural, neither stiff nor requiring support.

She was truly restored.

Xing Liang forced a smile. “Sis, it’s so great that you’ve recovered.”

Mr. and Mrs. Xing’s faces darkened.

Xing Le stared at him for a long moment, making him uneasy deep within.

“Sis, why are you looking at me like that?”

She sighed deeply and said calmly, “Xing Liang, although I was mentally impaired before, I was always aware of everything. I know exactly what you’ve done and said.”

Xing Liang’s eyes widened. His mind went blank, and his mouth opened and closed several times, unable to find words.

Xing Le said softly, “I also overheard the arrangements Dad made for both of us. I respect their decisions. From now on, I will take care of their old age. As for the relationship between you and me…”

She paused, her throat tightening.

“I suppose we were never destined to be family. There’s no need for much contact in the future.”

Xing Liang stood there stunned.

Mrs. Xing sobbed, “Lele, we’re sorry. We once thought about giving you up…”

Xing Le had been aware all along, and she knew her parents had once planned to send her to a mental hospital.

“Mom, there’s no need to apologize. You’ve done more than enough for me. I’m grateful, and I’m truly glad to be your daughter,” she said from the heart.

Seeing her parents still burdened by guilt, Xing Le said, “I want to go see my room.”

“All right, let’s go see your room,” Mrs. Xing replied immediately.

The three of them went upstairs, leaving Xing Liang standing alone.

At that moment, he finally realized that he no longer had any family.