Return of the Phoenix Lady

When Han Xing regained consciousness, she found herself in a dark space. A faint voice could be heard from afar, but perhaps because she was too far away, she couldn't make it out clearly. She could only vaguely hear a woman's voice. Gradually, the sound seemed to be getting closer. "Xing'er! Xing'er! Wake up! Don't sleep, you lazy bastard! It's getting late!" This... this voice was—mother!

Han Xing suddenly opened his eyes and saw Chu Xiang'er standing so close to him. His breathing became rapid and his eyes became hazy. He said uncertainly, "Mother... Mother?" He stroked the still beautiful smiling face with trembling hands.

"What's wrong? Xing'er, did you have a nightmare? Be good and don't cry, mother is here!" Chu Xiang'er gently wiped away the bright tears from the corners of Han Xing's eyes and comforted her.

"Hehe! Young master, get up quickly! It's time for lunch!" Xiao Jing said with a chuckle covering her lips.

Han Xing looked at Chu Xiang'er, then at Xiao Jing, and finally fixed his eyes on Chu Xiang'er, and burst into tears with a "wow".

"Xing'er? What's wrong with you? Don't cry! Mother will feel bad. Be good and tell me what you dreamed about." Seeing her precious daughter crying, Chu Xiang'er hurriedly comforted her in a soft voice.

"Little master, don't cry, don't cry! You are a little man now, how can you cry at the slightest provocation?" Xiao Jing was also trying to comfort him.

Han Xing looked at them with tears in her eyes. If this was a dream, she really didn't want to wake up. Han Xing had always buried her longing for Chu Xiang'er and Xiao Jing deep in her heart, so as not to let those who cared about her worry about her. But now that she saw their "real people", all those emotions came flooding out. Now Han Xing just wanted to bury herself in their arms and tell them about her longing for them.

Just once, let yourself be willful just this once, just once is enough, Han Xing said to herself in her heart.

"Mom! Xiaojing! Xing'er misses you so much!" Han Xing suddenly threw herself into Chu Xiang'er's arms and burst into tears.

"Xing'er, what nonsense are you talking about? Mother and Xiaojing are always here! What do you want from us? Be obedient and stop crying." Chu Xiang'er said with a chuckle.

"Young Master, did you dream about something?"

"Wuwu~ I had a very long dream, and both you and Xiaojing don't want me anymore! Wuwu~" Han Xing sobbed aggrievedly.

"Haha! Silly child, how could Mom and Xiaojing not want you? Hurry up and wash up! Your little face has become like a little cat!"

"Young master, Madam and Xiaojing will never abandon you! So you don't have to worry! Xiaojing will get you some water right away!" Xiaojing walked out with a smile.

"Yes! Come on, get up! Mom made your favorite sweet-scented osmanthus cake!"

Xiao Jing brought the basin, and Han Xing finally climbed out of Chu Xiang'er's arms. He peeked into the basin and was startled. This... wasn't this what he looked like when he was about a year old? Had he traveled through time again? And now he was his younger self? Could this be it? Was God giving him another chance to change that painful past?

"Xing'er, what's wrong? Can you even stare at the water?" Chu Xiang'er reminded.

"No...it's okay." Han Xing concealed the deep doubt in his eyes.

After washing up, Han Xing came to the hall, picked up the osmanthus cake and started eating it.

"Eat slowly and don't choke. No one is going to snatch it from you." Chu Xiang'er touched Han Xing's head and said.

In fact, Han Xing’s favorite osmanthus cake is not it, but it is what Chu Xiang’er is best at.

"Sister! Xing'er! Yang'er and I are here to see you! Haha!" He Shuhui walked in pulling Liu Hanyang.

Chu Xiang'er went out to greet her, "Sister is here? Come in and sit down!"

"Haha! We come to disturb you every day. Sister, you won't find us annoying, right?" He Shuhui joked.

"What are you talking about, sister? I can't wait to welcome you! Besides, in this house, you are the only ones who can talk to us, sisters." Chu Xiang'er looked at Han Xing lovingly. Even though she felt helpless, she couldn't resist her precious daughter.

Han Xing looked at Liu Hanyang straight as soon as he came in.

Liu Hanyang felt a little shy when he was looked at, and his face turned red, even though Han Xing was just a little kid now.

"Xing'er, what's wrong with you?" Liu Hanyang said embarrassedly.

"Hmm? Oh, nothing." Liu Hanyang is still the same as he was when he was a child, without changing at all. He couldn't help but look at Han Xing twice more, whom he hadn't seen for several years.

"Xing'er, what's wrong with you? Why have you been a little dazed since you woke up? Are you feeling unwell?" Chu Xiang'er asked worriedly.

"It's okay, Mom. I just woke up and my mind is a little distracted!" Han Xing was getting more and more confused. Was this just a dream, or was it real? Why did everyone else seem awake, but she was the only one who was dazed? Could it be that what she had experienced before was a dream, and now that she had woken up, everything had returned to where it was? Or did she really die at that time and then travel back in time? But if that was the case, Yingchen would be worried to death. Wait, Yingchen? Who is it? Why did she suddenly think of this name? How strange? Han Xing always felt like she had forgotten something, but at the same time, everything seemed normal. What was this strange feeling?

"Xing'er, are you okay? Let me take you out for a walk! Maybe you'll feel better after walking." Liu Hanyang suggested.

"Yeah, Xing'er, go out for a walk! You must be like this because you slept too much, you little lazy bum! Haha!" Chu Xiang'er said with a smile.

"Yang'er, you must take good care of your brother, okay?" He Shuhui instructed.

"Mother, Second Mother, don't worry! I will take good care of Xing'er." Liu Hanyang said obediently. Then he took Han Xing's little hand and walked out.

After leaving Lanxiang Courtyard, Han Xing walked slowly beside Liu Hanyang, still pondering that strange feeling in her heart, as if something was missing in her heart.

"Xing'er, let's go to the lake to see the lotus flowers!" Seeing that Han Xing didn't respond, he walked towards the lake.

Han Xing looked up from his thoughts and saw the pond filled with emerald green lotus leaves and a variety of lotus flowers. An image flashed through his mind, but before Han Xing could grasp it, it disappeared without a trace. He vaguely seemed to see a white object on the pond, and Han Xing asked the question that had been in his mind: "Brother Yang, has there been anything white on this pond before?"

Liu Hanyang's expressionless eyes seemed to flicker for a moment, and after a pause, he said, "Xing'er, did you dream about something on the pond? Now that you're awake, there's nothing on the pond. Stop talking nonsense, or Second Mother will worry about you."

"Oh." Han Xing replied sullenly, and stopped talking. Liu Hanyang also didn't say another word, but just stayed quietly beside Han Xing. In the evening, the two returned to Lanxiangyuan.

After dinner, Chu Xiang'er was still chatting with He Shuhui, while Liu Hanyang stayed aside to listen. Han Xing suddenly felt bored and quietly went out and climbed onto the roof.

Looking at the star-filled sky, alone on the rooftop, images flashed through Han Xing's mind. He felt more and more that something was amiss, but Mother was still Mother, Brother Yang was still Brother Yang, Xiao Jing was still Xiao Jing, and Auntie was still Auntie. What had gone wrong? A sense of loss of control spread within him, making Han Xing very unhappy.