Mother Li interrupted her.
“Silly girl, even if they were still here, Mom wouldn’t give you to them. Don’t overthink it.”
Father Li chimed in from the side, “That’s right! Dad is here! Dad will always protect my wife and my daughter.”
Mother Li shot Father Li a gentle glare, then took Li Ran’s hand and stroked it softly.
“When you get home later, you’ll see that girl. Her name is Li Xin. She’s had a tough time these years. Mom doesn’t expect you to treat her exceptionally well—Mom just hopes my precious daughter can grow up happily no matter what.
But if the two of you can get along even a little bit, Mom would really thank the heavens.”
Li Ran lowered her head, fiddling with the strap of her backpack.
“Mom, I read a novel before. In it, two girls were also switched at birth. When the real daughter was brought back, her parents said the same thing.
A few years later, that girl was kicked out of the house. Her parents even called her a bastard.”
Li Ran had never actually read such a novel, but it was necessary to say some things in advance.
What she didn’t expect was that upon hearing this, Mother Li covered her mouth and began to cry.
“Xiao Ran, what are you saying? Hearing this breaks Mom’s heart. Don’t you know how much Dad and Mom love you? Why would you say such hurtful things?”
Li Ran panicked, throwing herself into Mother Li’s arms. Mother Li held her close, and the two of them hugged each other, sobbing loudly.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Father Li frowned deeply. Seeing the two most important women in his world crying together truly made him anxious.
He could only hope that the daughter they had just brought back would behave, not upset his wife or bully Xiao Ran.
If she did, he could still provide her with a good material life and even leave her some assets in the future as compensation.
But if she dared to do anything out of line, then she shouldn’t blame him for being ruthless. What did blood ties matter? Nowadays, even in normal families, relationships between parents and children weren’t always great.
He had plenty of blood relatives. As far as he was concerned, what difference was there between this girl and a stranger?
Nestled in Mother Li’s embrace, Li Ran’s thoughts drifted to Li Xin.
In this life, she had prepared everything before Li Xin’s arrival.
She had made the Li family inseparable from her, crafted her image to perfection, and even on the day Li Xin returned, she had stirred up the emotions of all three members of the Li family.
She wondered if Li Xin would appreciate such a grand gift.
The car came to a smooth stop at the entrance of the Li family villa. Hearing the car, the butler hurriedly opened the door to greet them.
“Sir, Madam, Miss, you’re back!” The butler’s heart ached as he looked at the young lady standing by the car door. He couldn’t help but worry about what would become of such a lovely girl.
Li Ran stood by the car, timidly biting her lip and looking pitifully at Mother Li.
“Mom, I’m a little scared. I don’t know what to say when we go inside or how to get along with her… Should I call her ‘older sister’ or ‘younger sister,’ Mom?”
Mother Li’s maternal instincts surged once again. She walked over to Li Ran, took her hand, and led her forward.
“You silly child! How do you usually get home? Just do the same now! This is your home! How could anyone not know how to get home?!”
The butler welcomed the three inside.
Li Xin, who had heard the car pull up earlier, now emerged from the living room.
She saw her stern father, then the mother who resembled her in appearance yet carried an air of grace.
Finally, her gaze fell on the person her mother was holding by the hand.
It was a girl who seemed slightly shorter than her, with exceptionally fair skin—the fairest she had ever seen. Her large eyes looked as if they had just been crying, and her moist lips contrasted sharply with Li Xin’s own dry, peeling ones.
Though dressed in a simple school uniform, the girl’s attractive figure was still evident.
As for Li Xin, she had put on her best outfit today, yet she still felt like an ugly duckling in front of this girl.
So this was the girl who had taken over her sixteen years of life? This was the girl who should have been living a miserable existence but was instead enjoying everything here!
All of this should have been hers—the parents standing before her were her mother and father, this grand villa was her home, the money, clothes, bags—everything belonged to her!
Watching Mother Li and Li Ran’s tightly clasped hands, Li Xin unconsciously revealed a trace of sinister malice.
Father Li, observing from the side, sized up the girl before him. He remembered the first time she had come to see him.
She had exuded an aura he disliked from head to toe. His daughter, Li Zhengyun’s daughter, should be like Li Ran—sunny, adorable, and kind-hearted.
But this girl named Li Xin was someone accustomed to pretense. Having spent so many years in the business world and encountered countless people, how could he fail to see through a teenage girl?
Father Li cleared his throat softly, snapping Li Xin out of her momentary lapse.
With a loud cry, she rushed toward Mother Li, shouting as she ran, “Mom! Are you my mom? I’m your daughter! Mom! I’ve missed you so much!”
Caught off guard, Mother Li was knocked back a few steps by Li Xin’s embrace.
Li Ran took the opportunity to release Mother Li’s hand, quietly moving behind Father Li to watch the unfolding drama.
Mother Li steadied herself after stumbling back. By then, Li Xin was clinging to her so tightly it made breathing difficult. When Mother Li tried to struggle free, Li Xin only held on tighter.
Slightly taller than Mother Li, Li Xin was now crying uncontrollably, her tears and even some snot staining Mother Li’s shoulder.
Just as Mother Li was at a loss for what to do, Li Qing finally hurried back. Seeing the two entangled in the living room, he stepped forward to separate them.
Li Qing gave Li Xin a cool glance, then noticed the glistening, unidentified substance on Mother Li’s shoulder, feeling utterly disgusted.
“Mom, you should go change your clothes. Look at the snot on your shoulder—ugh.”
Only then did Mother Li realize Li Xin’s snot had soiled her shoulder. As someone with a cleanliness obsession, she wanted to say something but clenched her fist and let it go.
Mother Li went to her room to wash up and change, leaving only Father Li, Li Qing, Li Ran, and Li Xin in the living room.
Li Qing led Li Ran to sit on the sofa.
Father Li pondered for a moment, feeling that if things continued this way, it would be detrimental to the harmony of the entire family.
So he took the initiative to introduce her to his son and daughter sitting on the sofa.
“Well, this is Li Xin, your younger sister. You should get along well from now on.”