Out in the yard, the two little ones had already hurried to open the gate. The moment they saw Gu Yanzhi and Shen Niannian, they lit up with excitement and rushed over, clinging to his legs one on each side.
“Daddy!!”
Only then did Shen Niannian get a clear look at the two children. They were twins, strikingly alike, around three or four years old, with round little faces and big bright eyes. The boy was slightly taller and sturdier, while the girl was slender and delicate, with two braids cut short just above her ears that bounced adorably every time she ran.
The moment Gu Yanzhi saw them, his expression softened completely. He lifted both children up, one in each arm, then turned and pointed toward Shen Niannian to introduce them.
“This is… this is… your mother.”
As he spoke, he stole a quick, shy glance at Shen Niannian, half-afraid she might take offense. After all, she was barely twenty years old—suddenly being presented with two children already three or four years old was a lot for anyone to take in.
The little girl blinked her big eyes and looked Shen Niannian over curiously, while the boy regarded her with quiet wariness.
Shen Niannian simply smiled, and brought the gifts she had hidden behind her back out into view.
“Hello, Huanhuan. Hello, Lele. It’s our very first meeting, so Mother has brought you both little presents! Let’s see if you like them, shall we?”
Neither in this life nor the last had she ever had much experience with children. But oh, how she had dreamed of having a child of her own.
In her past life, she had watched Wang Jiangang have a son with the woman he had always loved. She had even gone to visit them. To see that lazy, good-for-nothing man suddenly volunteering to change diapers of his own accord—she had thought it nothing short of a miracle.
It would have been impossible not to feel envious. But by then, she was already too old to have children of her own. And besides… with whom? As a renowned businesswoman, she had always held herself to high standards, especially in her private life—not a single rumor, not a single boyfriend. She had, in truth, devoted her entire youth to her work. Watching other families happily taking their children to amusement parks had always filled her with quiet longing.
And now, to suddenly have two precious, beautiful little ones calling her “Mother”? Her heart soared. She did not even notice that her voice trembled as she spoke—part joy, part fear. Fear that she might be rejected. Fear that the children might not take to her.
She remembered all too well how Shen Youyou had behaved in her past life. Every time she came home, she would complain endlessly—about the children, about everything. She had called these two precious souls nothing but burdens, and had loathed the very sight of them.
But now, as Huanhuan and Lele caught sight of what Shen Niannian held in her hands, their eyes lit up. Along with sweets and canned fruit, she had brought a little wooden car and a plastic doll dressed in a pretty dress!
The children cried out in delight, scrambling down from Gu Yanzhi’s arms and rushing over to claim their gifts. Lele held the doll gently, gazing at it lovingly, then looked up at Shen Niannian and spoke in a soft, sweet voice.
“Thank you, Mother!”
At those words, Shen Niannian’s eyes glistened with tears. She took Lele’s small hand in hers. “You are so very welcome. As long as you like it, that is all that matters. And if you do, then when Mother earns more money, I shall buy you many more lovely things!”
Lele beamed, then reached up and planted a loud, sweet kiss right on Shen Niannian’s cheek.
Huanhuan immediately decided he wanted a turn too, pushing his way over and snuggling into Shen Niannian’s embrace. “Mother! Me too!”
Shen Niannian laughed warmly and nodded again and again. “Alright, alright! There is plenty for both of you!”
Standing nearby, Gu Yanzhi smiled. Just then, Tian Yuefang and Gu Yanzhen stepped out from the kitchen and, seeing the scene unfolding before them, smiled along with them.
“Yanzhi, Niannian—you’ve arrived!”
“Second Brother! Second Sister-in-law!”
For reasons she could not quite explain, Gu Yanzhen had taken an instant liking to Shen Niannian, simply from the gentle, loving way she had just spoken to the children. They had barely exchanged more than a few words on their wedding day—both had been too busy greeting guests—and afterward, Shen Niannian had gone straight back to the married quarters. So Gu Yanzhen had never really gotten to know her until now.
Looking at her properly for the first time, she saw that her new sister-in-law was graceful, gentle, and beautiful—lovely to look at, and with a kind heart that shone through most clearly in how she treated the children. Gu Yanzhen felt herself growing fond of Shen Niannian at once. She hurried over and linked her arm through Shen Niannian’s.
“Second Sister-in-law, you’re finally here! Mother and I have been waiting and waiting!”
This was truly the first time Shen Niannian had ever met Gu Yanzhen. She had no memory of her at all from the days before her rebirth—she had awakened only on her wedding night. And in her past life, she had barely ever seen her; whatever she had known had come entirely from Shen Youyou’s accounts.
Shen Youyou had always claimed that the two had never gotten along. She had told a tragic tale: that Gu Yanzhen had fallen hopelessly in love with a young man sent down to the countryside to work, only to discover later that he already had a wife and children back in his village. Undeterred, Gu Yanzhen had sent him money from her family home to support his household—only to learn later that every penny had been sent straight back to his wife and children. When she finally learned the truth, the shock had been too much. She had been pregnant, and in her distress had fallen and miscarried. The injury left her unable to bear children ever again. The man, feeling no need for pretense, had openly brought his wife and children to the city and bought them a home of their own. Brokenhearted and enraged, Gu Yanzhen had stormed over to their house one day with a knife. Though no harm was done, the man had beaten her severely, and her mind had broken under the pain. He had promptly divorced her and cast her aside.
Shen Youyou had told the whole story with a sneer of satisfaction.
But looking now at the bright, smiling young woman standing before her, Shen Niannian’s heart ached. Gu Yanzhen was pure and uncomplicated, and bore a striking resemblance to Gu Yanzhi—especially her eyes, which crinkled in exactly the same way when she smiled. Her hair was braided into two long thick plaits that fell over her shoulders, making her look youthful and vibrant.
Shen Niannian pushed those painful memories aside and smiled, feeling a little sheepish. “It is entirely my fault—I slept in late. Please forgive me, Mother, and Little Sister!”
Tian Yuefang looked at her with nothing but approval and waved her hand warmly. “Not at all! We are not a household burdened by endless rules. Besides—you two were married only yesterday and must be quite exhausted! A little extra rest is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Gu Yanzhen chimed in with a bright smile. “Exactly! Mother is right—sleep as late as you please here!” She then gestured toward the east room with a meaningful tilt of her head. “Though I should tell you—that one in there still hasn’t gotten out of bed!”
Shen Niannian understood immediately who she meant. No doubt it was the newly returned eldest daughter-in-law, the one expecting a child.
Shortly afterward, Gu Zhenhua returned home from the textile mill. He had made a special detour to the state-run department store on his bicycle and come back carrying two full bags of fruit. Seeing Shen Niannian and Gu Yanzhi already there, he beamed with delight.
“Ah! Second Son! Second Daughter-in-law! You’ve both arrived already!”