{Shen Qi was concise: “The airport.” 3}

Although Shen Qinian also longed for a reunion, after seeing the true nature of his parents’ relationship the day before, he thought it was nothing more than wishful thinking. “That’s impossible.”

“Why not?” Shen Qiyue’s argument seemed logical this time. “When else would we need to dress so formally? Weren’t we accepted into the international kindergarten without even needing to take any tests?”

“Maybe there is something big happening at home,” Shen Qinian admitted. He had been excited about the clothes their father had sent and had even planned to try them on secretly in his room. But his sister’s sudden interruption and the ensuing conversation left his mind muddled. He finally calmed himself down enough to explain, “But that doesn’t mean it has anything to do with Mom and Dad getting back together.”

Shen Qiyue was already used to her brother’s pessimism when it came to their parents’ relationship.

It didn’t dampen her spirits at all.

“I say it is,” she insisted. “You know how Dad is. If it weren’t for Mom wanting to reconcile, would he have put so much thought into getting us these outfits?”

With that, she excitedly turned away to call Cheng Shuangyi.

Still groggy from sleep, Cheng Shuangyi was lingering on the coldness she had felt from Shen Qi the night before. She hadn’t expected the situation to turn around so quickly.

“Yueyue, are you serious?”

“Your dad even prepared formal clothes for you two? I can’t believe it. After all these years, your dad still hasn’t changed one bit…” Cheng Shuangyi didn’t finish the rest of her sentence.

But her implication was clear—Shen Qi was still the same as before, pretending to be indifferent on the outside while secretly wanting everything.

Thinking that Shen Qi might have gone out of his way to plan some grand gesture, Cheng Shuangyi forced herself to get up and dress, despite the hangover from the night before.

Though, she had to admit that maybe her complaints the previous night had been too loud.

On the other end of the call, Cheng Shuangyi wasn’t about to admit her current excitement to her daughter. She saw it as her due, instructing Shen Qiyue to act as if she hadn’t told her anything. After hanging up, she allowed herself a small, smug smile.

“Nancy, that apron looks nice on you today.”

The maid, whom Cheng Shuangyi had named Nancy, was puzzled. She had been wearing the same work uniform for six months.

The household staff didn’t know what to make of the situation either. Last night, their mistress had returned home in a foul mood, and they’d been walking on eggshells. But today, she seemed much friendlier than usual. They could hear Cheng Shuangyi chatting pleasantly with them, but they remained on high alert, worried that she might suddenly turn on them and kick them out of the house, leaving them with nowhere to go.

…

After informing her mother, Shen Qiyue was filled with double the joy and didn’t care what her brother Shen Qinian thought of her anymore.

Her mind was consumed with the idea of her father’s grand reconciliation ceremony.

She imagined how many flowers would line the garden path, how luxurious the champagne and wine would be, and how many guests from Jiangcheng would gather to celebrate.

But her brother was a downer: “You told Mom without knowing for sure. What if things don’t turn out the way you imagined? What will we do then?”

Shen Qinian cradled his troubled face, deep in thought.

Qian Xu had once taught him not to make promises about anything that wasn’t certain, especially when there was less than a hundred percent chance of something happening. Unfortunately, his sister didn’t seem to heed his advice. Before long, however, even Shen Qinian found himself swayed by the rosy future Shen Qiyue was painting.

If his parents really did reconcile, he could be part of a normal family again.

At the very least, the teasing from his classmates about his family situation would no longer hold any weight.

Lost in these unrealistic fantasies, Shen Qinian didn’t even notice when his father returned home from work early.

Shen Qiyue, always quicker to react, greeted their father with a bright smile, “Daddy, you’re back!”

“The clothes you sent us are so beautiful! I can’t wait to wear them and show them off…” Shen Qiyue gestured animatedly, but before she could finish, Shen Qi interrupted coldly.

“Then put them on right now.”

He turned to Shen Qinian, who had been daydreaming in the corner. “You too.”

If Shen Qiyue hadn’t been pestering him so much, Shen Qi would never have bothered explaining as he loosened his tie. But now, he felt compelled to clarify. “Yes, we’re going to a very important event.”