Rebirth of Jinxuan

The setting sun cast a warm glow on the bluestone path. After the Wang family left, a cheerful atmosphere filled the small pharmacy.

"Mommy, are we really going to live in that wicked old man's house?" Lu Yuhang asked excitedly, his little face slightly flushed with excitement.

"Of course." Lu Jinxuan smiled and pinched his nose. "That wicked old man owes us a lot of money. Consider this shop as payment for the debt."

"But, Mother, wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to move in like this?" Mo Chenfan hesitated, after all, the shop was nominally still owned by the Wang family.

“What’s wrong with that?” Lu Jinxuan raised an eyebrow. “Based on what they’ve done before, taking over this shop is the least we can do! Besides,” she paused, lowering her voice, “I suspect there’s an even bigger secret behind them. We’re definitely staying here!”

Seeing that she was determined, Mo Chenfan stopped trying to dissuade her and nodded in agreement.

Ai Xi helped the man in white into the pharmacy and gently closed the door. The once noisy pharmacy immediately became quiet; you could hear a pin drop.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Qingyuan looked at the man in white with concern in her eyes.

The man in white waved his hand to indicate that he was alright, his voice low and hoarse: "It's nothing, just a minor injury, nothing serious."

Ai Xi and Qing Yuan exchanged a glance, then knelt down and respectfully kowtowed, saying, "Your subordinates pay their respects to Your Highness, the Crimson Serpent Demon King!"

"Get up," the man in white said calmly, his voice tinged with weariness.

He slowly walked to the table and sat down, casually picking up a teacup from the table. However, due to the injury on his hand, he accidentally knocked the teacup over, spilling tea all over the table.

"Your Highness!" Qingyuan exclaimed and hurriedly stepped forward to wipe him clean.

"No need." The man in white stopped her, took out a handkerchief, and slowly wiped the water stains on the table.

"Tell me, how did things go?" He looked up at Ai Xi, his eyes sharp as knives.

Ai Xi quickly bowed her head and reported, "Your Highness, I have already investigated..."

Before he could finish speaking, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

"Mommy, look, this room is so big!" Lu Yuhang's cheerful voice rang out from the doorway.

Immediately afterward, Lu Jinxuan and Mo Chenfan appeared at the door. They immediately spotted the white-clad man sitting at the table, and Ai Xi and Qing Yuan kneeling on the ground.

“You guys…” Lu Jinxuan was stunned, her gaze darting back and forth between the group, a bad feeling rising in her heart.

The man in white raised his head and slowly removed the straw hat from his head.

"Long time no see, Xuan'er." He looked at Lu Jinxuan, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

Lu Jinxuan's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the man before her, her mind blank.

How could it be him?! A hush fell over the room, broken only by the faint sound of gasps. Lu Jinxuan's gaze was fixed on the white-clad man's face, as if trying to etch him into her heart. Beneath the bamboo hat lay an unparalleled face: eyebrows like ink paintings, eyes like stars, a high nose, and red lips with white teeth. Even Lu Jinxuan, who was used to seeing handsome men, couldn't help but sigh inwardly, how breathtakingly beautiful a woman would be if that face were on her! What a pity, what a pity…

The man in white seemed to sense her gaze, his eyes instantly dimming, a bitter smile spreading across them. He slowly rose, unfastening his cloak to reveal a magnificent brocade robe beneath. An aura of regal authority instantly emanated from him, overwhelming him with power.

"Mother, who is this person?" Lu Yuhang asked curiously, tugging at Lu Jinxuan's sleeve and breaking the eerie silence.

Upon hearing this, the man looked at Lu Yuhang with gentle eyes, bent down, and picked him up. "Call me Daddy," he said softly, his voice deep and magnetic.

"Father?" Lu Yuhang looked at Lu Jinxuan with a puzzled expression, as if seeking confirmation.

Lu Jinxuan's face flushed crimson. Looking at the incomparably handsome man before her, fragmented images suddenly flashed through her mind: a blurry figure, a gentle smile, and… a child. She suddenly realized—this man was Yu Hang's biological father!

Seeing Lu Jinxuan's reaction, the bitterness in the man's eyes deepened. He gently put Lu Yuhang down, walked to Lu Jinxuan, and reached out to stroke her cheek.

Lu Jinxuan subconsciously took a step back, avoiding his touch. The man's hand froze in mid-air, a hint of desolation flashing in his eyes.

"You...you really are..." Lu Jinxuan was somewhat incoherent. She didn't know what to say or how to face this man who had suddenly appeared.

“It’s me,” the man said softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “I know you have many questions, and I will explain them to you slowly.”

He paused, then continued, "All these years, I've been searching for you and the child, and today finally..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Yuhang suddenly ran over, grabbed Lu Jinxuan's leg, and looked at the man warily. "Mother, who is he? Why does he want me to call him Father?"

The man looked at Lu Yuhang, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but didn't know where to begin.

Just then, Mo Chenfan walked in. When he saw the scene inside, his expression changed slightly, and a trace of loneliness flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by relief.

"What happened?" he asked, trying to sound calm.

Upon seeing Mo Chenfan, Lu Yuhang immediately ran over, hid behind him, and pointed at the man, saying, "Uncle, this man wants me to call him Daddy!"

Mo Chenfan glanced at Lu Yuhang, then at Lu Jinxuan and the man, and understood the gist of it. He gently patted Lu Yuhang's head, signaling him not to be afraid.

"Young master, may I ask who you are...?" Mo Chenfan looked at the man, his tone polite but distant.

The man gave Lu Jinxuan a deep look, then turned to Mo Chenfan and slowly said, "I am..."

He had barely uttered a word when suddenly, Lu Yuhang broke free from Mo Chenfan's grasp, pointed at the man, and shouted, "You scoundrel! You're not allowed near my mother!" With that, he turned and ran away.

Seeing this, Mo Chenfan sighed helplessly, gave Lu Jinxuan an apologetic look, and then chased after Lu Yuhang.

Lu Jinxuan watched Lu Yuhang run away, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She took a deep breath, turned to look at the man, her eyes firm and calm.

"Who are you?" she asked. "What should I call you?"

The man looked at her, a complex light flashing in his eyes... "Call me..."

"Call me... Yuxi." The man paused, seemingly struggling to utter the words, "Zhang Yuxi."

Lu Jinxuan's heart skipped a beat. The name Zhang Yuxi exploded in her ears like a thunderclap. She staggered back, shaking her head in disbelief, "Impossible, this can't be..."

Just then, Lu Yuhang came running back, panting, followed by a helpless-looking Mo Chenfan. He ran to Lu Jinxuan's side, looked up at her with his little face, and asked in a tearful voice, "Mother, is he... is he really my father?"

Lu Jinxuan suppressed the turmoil in her heart, squatted down, gently wiped away the tears on Lu Yuhang's face, and said softly, "Hang'er, Mother doesn't know him."

"No, my wife, you know me!" Zhang Yuxi rushed forward, grabbed Lu Jinxuan's shoulder, and said excitedly, "I am Yuxi, your husband!"

Lu Jinxuan was startled by his sudden action and struggled hard, but she could not break free from his strong hand.

"Let go of my mother!" Upon seeing this, Lu Yuhang lunged at Zhang Yuxi, baring his teeth and claws, trying to pull him away from Lu Jinxuan.

Zhang Yuxi looked down at the small figure before him, his eyes filled with love and guilt. He released Lu Jinxuan, bent down, picked up Lu Yuhang, and said softly, "Hang'er, it's your father, don't you remember?"

Lu Yuhang struggled desperately in his arms, his little face flushed red, "You're not my father, I don't have a father!"

Zhang Yuxi felt a pang of pain in his heart as he looked at Lu Yuhang, who was crying incessantly in his arms. He put Lu Yuhang down, turned to look at Lu Jinxuan, his eyes filled with sorrow and pleading, "My wife, do you really not remember me? We used to..."

"Enough!" Lu Jinxuan interrupted him sharply, her eyes filled with pain and struggle. "I don't know what you're talking about. Please leave here and don't disturb our lives anymore!"

Looking into her resolute eyes, Zhang Yuxi felt a chill run through him. He slowly stood up, took a few steps back, and gave a bitter smile. "Fine, I'll leave, but I won't give up. One day, you'll remember me, you'll remember everything we once shared..."

He gave Lu Jinxuan and Lu Yuhang a deep look, then turned and left, leaving behind only a lonely figure.

“Mother…” Lu Yuhang hugged Lu Jinxuan tightly, his eyes filled with fear and unease.

Lu Jinxuan hugged him tightly, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and gently comforted him, "Don't be afraid, Hang'er, Mother will protect you and won't let anyone hurt you."

Mo Chenfan stood to the side, watching this scene, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say. In the end, he could only sigh, silently turn around, and leave the room.

In the dead of night, Lu Jinxuan lay in bed, unable to fall asleep. Zhang Yuxi's words echoed in her mind like a curse. Did she really know him? Had anything truly happened between them?