By the bustling street, the young man had an arm around the young girl's shoulders. Their heads leaned together, joyous smiles on their lips, creating an exceptionally warm scene.
A wooden bracelet adorned the young man's left wrist and the young girl's right wrist. One was engraved with the character "Xue," and the other with "Feng."
There were no sweet words, no earth-shaking vows. There were only two hearts that acknowledged each other, coming together in that silent moment.
These simple wooden bracelets were neither precious nor rare, yet they became tokens of love between them...
Nearby, the veiled Bibi Dong watched the scene. Though comforted, she consciously walked away, giving the two youngsters some time alone.
Jin Lingfeng and Qian Renxue interlocked their fingers as they happily wandered the streets, eating here, looking around there, and having a wonderful time.
After a long while, Qian Renxue looked around, frowned, and asked:
"Lingfeng, we were so busy having fun just now that we called... Mother... Why can't I see her?"
After confirming her relationship with Jin Lingfeng, Qian Renxue was in an exceptionally good mood. Even her slight resistance toward Bibi Dong had faded considerably. This was also the first time she had called Bibi Dong "Mother."
Jin Lingfeng's eyes lit up. Hiding the delight in his heart, he hurriedly said:
"Xue'er, don't worry. Aunt Dong'er hasn't left."
"She just doesn't want to disturb our time together, so she's following us from afar."
Qian Renxue shot him a glance, but upon seeing the tenderness in the young man's eyes, a faint smile still appeared on her soft lips.
At that moment, Jin Lingfeng turned the young girl by the shoulders, looked seriously into her eyes, and asked:
"Xue'er, answer me honestly. Are you willing to acknowledge Aunt Dong'er?"
The moment those words were spoken, the smile on Qian Renxue's face vanished, replaced by intense nervousness. Her eyes lowered slightly, clearly showing the struggle within her heart.
Jin Lingfeng said nothing further. He glanced toward the woman in the corner and gave her a comforting look...
For the past seven years, Bibi Dong had lived under the nightmare of that beast Qian Xunji. Now that her enemy was dead and the Rakshasa God's curse had been lifted, what she wanted most was to acknowledge her daughter...
At that instant, countless childhood memories flashed through Qian Renxue's mind, and her delicate hand unconsciously clenched tightly.
Then she recalled her birthday. Faced with her merciless scolding, that woman had shed helpless, sorrowful, guilt-ridden tears. Later, Grandfather had even revealed truths Qian Renxue had never known...
"Qian Renxue, do you... still hate that woman?"
"But Grandfather said she was forced..."
"Qian Renxue, haven't you always wanted to acknowledge her?"
"She's hidden somewhere nearby right now. As long as you nod and say you're willing, she'll hear you..."
After a long struggle, Qian Renxue's eyes reddened, but her expression became especially resolute.
She raised her head and met the young man's encouraging gaze. Her nervous heart gradually calmed, becoming steady and filled with a sense of security.
Qian Renxue parted her soft lips, nodded firmly, and cried out excitedly, "I'm willing!"
Yet those simple three words had taken all the young girl's strength to force out. They were the truest words that had been suppressed deep in Qian Renxue's heart ever since her birthday...
At the same time, Bibi Dong's body trembled again behind them. Ripples rose in her beautiful eyes as she stepped forward before her daughter, her voice trembling as she called excitedly:
"Xue'er..."
"Mo... Mother!"
Qian Renxue could no longer hold back. Tears slid uncontrollably from her eyes. When she saw the endless tenderness and joy in the woman's gaze, her heart was deeply moved.
She tightly covered her mouth, already sobbing beyond words. For a moment, she did not know how to face Bibi Dong before her.
Across from her, Bibi Dong was equally excited and joyful. Hearing from her daughter's own lips that she was willing to acknowledge her filled Bibi Dong with indescribable happiness. She wanted to rush forward and pull her daughter into her arms, but she did not have the courage...
In an instant, the two women simply gazed at each other and wept. Their eyes met, tears streaming freely down their cheeks as sorrowful, suppressed sobs echoed around them, drawing many passersby to stop and watch.
Jin Lingfeng turned aside and secretly wiped at the corner of his eye. Some sand had accidentally gotten into his eye just now.
He pressed his lips together tightly, forcing out a smile as he said excitedly:
"Xue'er, Aunt Dong'er, congratulations."
"Seeing the two of you reconcile is the happiest thing in my life."
Then Jin Lingfeng gave Qian Renxue's delicate back a firm push, sending her entire body stumbling toward Bibi Dong before her.
Qian Renxue was slightly startled, but she was soon tightly embraced by a warm pair of arms. Raising her head, she saw a pair of tear-streaked eyes gazing at her...
"Xue'er!"
"Mother!"
Their emotions finally burst forth completely.
Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue, these two pitiful women, tightly embraced each other and wept with joy. Their eyes were already red and swollen from crying, but joyous smiles hung on both their lips, making the atmosphere exceptionally warm...
At that moment, the surrounding pedestrians were still pointing and watching.
But Jin Lingfeng beside them smiled sincerely, genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.
He quickly turned slightly to the side, because sand had gotten into his eyes again...
Night fell, and the starlight was faint.
The bright moon hung high overhead, casting its silvery-white light across the earth.
Amid resounding explosions, countless brilliant fireworks rose into the sky.
And this signified that today's temple fair had reached its climax, with all of Spirit City enveloped in cheers and joy.
Spirit City, atop the Papal Palace.
At this moment, three figures sat on the steps.
Qian Renxue sat in the middle. Her mother Bibi Dong was to her right, and her beloved Jin Lingfeng was to her left.
"Mother, look! The fireworks are so beautiful!"
"These are the most beautiful fireworks I've ever seen in my life!"
Qian Renxue pointed at the colorful fireworks blooming in the sky and spoke excitedly to her mother on the right.
She hugged Bibi Dong's arm with both hands and rested her little head against it, gently rubbing against her like a clingy kitten.
Bibi Dong gazed tenderly at her daughter Qian Renxue. An indescribable surge of joy rose in her heart as she reached out and gently stroked her daughter's little head, a happy smile appearing on her red lips.
She swore that she would spend the rest of her life caring for her daughter, making up for all the love she had failed to give her in the past. She would watch her grow up properly, get married, and have children...
"Xue'er, the temple fair in Spirit City is held once every three years."
"As long as you like it, I'll accompany you to watch the fireworks at every temple fair from now on."
"I wronged you in the past. I will definitely make it up to you in the future..."
Bibi Dong spoke guiltily, tears gradually filling her beautiful eyes.
Touched, Qian Renxue shook her head with a bright smile and said:
"Mother, let the past stay in the past."
"As long as we can always be together from now on, that's enough."
Bibi Dong nodded firmly. Warmth flowed through her already scarred heart, and she was deeply moved. She reached out with both hands and pulled her daughter into her arms. The mother and daughter whispered to each other, surrounded by a warm atmosphere.
Beside them, Jin Lingfeng watched the scene.
His two greatest wishes had been to win Qian Renxue's heart and help her acknowledge Bibi Dong. Now, they had finally both been fulfilled.
Suddenly, something soft wrapped around his arm. It was Qian Renxue.
"Lingfeng, what are you thinking about?"
The young girl hugged the arm of the boy she loved and asked softly.
Now that both her love and family bonds had been fulfilled, the fierceness and arrogance in her heart had turned into tenderness.
Jin Lingfeng slid his hand around the beauty's soft waist and said teasingly:
"Xue'er, I was thinking about how impulsive I was to confess to you today."
"Your temper is so awful. What if I can't stand it in the future?"
Clearly, he was teasing Qian Renxue. Bibi Dong beside them shook her head with a smile as she watched them fool around.
However, Qian Renxue did not see it that way. Her hidden young lady temperament was stirred up again.
Before you continue