The cave became completely silent.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The little raven girl stood frozen near the entrance, golden eyes already filling with tears.
Her gaze never left Bai Xueyin.
“…Mother?”
The word echoed softly through the cave.
Bai Xueyin’s heart skipped.
Mother.
Again.
But this time it felt different.
Because the little girl’s voice carried something painful.
Not uncertainty.
Not curiosity.
Recognition.
As if she had waited a very long time to say that word.
The raven girl took one hesitant step forward.
Then another.
Her small hands trembled.
“…Mother…”
Wu Ye’s teasing smile had completely disappeared.
For once, the raven looked stunned.
Because he had never shown his daughter a portrait.
Never described Xueyin’s appearance in detail.
Never told her where to find her.
Yet somehow—
The little girl knew.
Bai Xueyin sat frozen on the bed.
The cubs around her looked equally shocked.
Especially Bai Qingluo.
The fox cub immediately understood what this meant.
Another sibling.
Another father.
Another piece of a life their mother couldn’t remember.
The raven girl stopped beside the bed.
Close enough to touch.
But she didn’t.
As if afraid the woman before her would disappear.
Or reject her.
The sight made Xueyin’s chest ache.
The little girl looked so hopeful.
So nervous.
So scared.
“…What’s your name?” Xueyin asked gently.
The raven girl’s eyes widened.
Then quickly answered.
“Wu Yin.”
Her voice was small.
Careful.
Xueyin smiled softly.
“Wu Yin is a beautiful name.”
The little girl’s eyes instantly turned red.
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Because she remembered those exact words.
Years ago.
When she was very little.
A warm woman holding her in her arms.
Gently touching her hair.
Saying—
> “Wu Yin is a beautiful name.”
The memory wasn’t complete.
Only fragments.
But she remembered.
And now the same words were spoken again.
The little raven could no longer hold back.
“Mother!”
She rushed forward.
Straight into Bai Xueyin’s arms.
The bed nearly tipped over.
The other cubs immediately panicked.
“Careful!”
“Mother just recovered!”
“Don’t crush Mama!”
But Wu Yin was already hugging Xueyin tightly.
As if she never wanted to let go.
Xueyin froze.
Then slowly wrapped her arms around the little girl.
The moment she did—
A strange warmth spread through her chest.
Comfort.
Affection.
Longing.
Not her memories.
Not her emotions.
Yet somehow still real.
Wu Yin buried her face against Xueyin’s shoulder.
“…I found you.”
Her tiny voice trembled.
“I finally found you.”
The cave fell quiet again.
Even Wu Ye looked away briefly.
Because seeing his daughter like this hurt.
For years—
Wu Yin had searched.
Asked questions.
Collected every rumor.
Every clue.
Every story involving a snow fox woman.
Never believing her mother was truly gone.
And now—
Bai Xueyin gently stroked the girl’s hair.
Confusion still filled her heart.
She didn’t remember giving birth to Wu Yin.
Didn’t remember raising her.
Didn’t remember meeting Wu Ye.
But the little girl’s happiness was real.
That much she could understand.
Then suddenly—
Wu Yin lifted her head.
Golden eyes sparkling through tears.
“Mother.”
“…Yes?”
The little raven pointed directly at Wu Ye.
“When are you marrying Father again?”
The cave exploded.
“WHAT?!”
Xueyin nearly fell off the bed.
Lin Huan started coughing.
Bai Yan looked delighted.
Bai Xingyuan immediately hissed.
“NO!”
Even Xue Linyuan’s face darkened.
Meanwhile—
Wu Ye calmly covered his daughter’s mouth.
“…Children shouldn’t discuss adult matters.”
Wu Yin removed his hand.
“But you said if I found Mother, you’d bring her home.”
The cave became silent again.
Every eye slowly turned toward Wu Ye.
The raven smiled.
A perfectly calm smile.
A smile that looked suspiciously guilty.
“…I may have said something similar.”
“Father said it every week.”
“…Wu Yin.”
“He also kept Mother’s feather.”
“…Wu Yin.”
“And cried once.”
The entire cave froze.
Wu Ye’s smile finally cracked.
Lin Huan immediately burst out laughing.
Even Bai Chen’s ears twitched.
The raven closed his eyes.
For the first time in years—
He wished his daughter talked less.
And Bai Xueyin suddenly realized something terrifying.
These men weren’t just appearing one after another.
They all seemed to have entire histories with her.
Histories she couldn’t remember.
And judging from everyone’s reactions—
The next reunion would probably be even more chaotic.