Chapter 7

Ren Liu felt reluctant to answer the phone, not because he doesn’t like Mother Xu. Its just that he had just started to have an understanding with his lovely wife.

“Answer it.” Xia said softly, upon seeing the reluctant in his face. “Maybe its an emergency.”

Upon answering the phone, Ren Liu heard the weak voice of his mother in law. “Hello Ren.”

“Mother, how are you?” he asked gently.

“I’m alright, but something happened.”

Taking a deep breath, his Mother Xu began to speak, her voice filled with a mix of worry and affection. She delicately informed him that her husband, his father-in-law, had fallen ill. Her words were laced with the gravity of the situation, each syllable carefully chosen to convey the severity of the news without causing unnecessary alarm.

She described how her husband had been experiencing a decline in his health over the past few days, with his condition steadily worsening. Her voice quivered slightly as she shared the details, emphasizing the need for immediate attention and medical intervention.

Ren Liu listened attentively, his heart sinking with each passing word. He knew the deep bond his mother-in-law shared with her husband, and he empathized with the pain she must be feeling. Despite the gravity of the situation, he admired her strength in delivering such difficult news with grace and composure.

“Her father and I were worried. Is she ok? "

Ren glanced at his wife and replied. “She is doing great mother.”

"Her father wants to see her. We miss her. "She choke out.

“Mother I will give her the phone. " Ren Liu said firmly, he's doesn’t know how Xia would react but she needed this.

Curiosity got the better of Xia, and she took the phone from her husband’s hand.

"Hello?" Xia’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke, unsure of what lay ahead.

"Xixi," her mother's voice crackled through the phone, carrying a mixture of longing and vulnerability. "It's me, your mother. "

Xia’s heart skipped a beat, emotions swirling within her. She hadn't heard her mother's voice in what felt like an eternity. The memories of their last encounter flooded back, bringing with them a surge of unresolved pain and resentment.

"Why are you calling Liu about me, Mom?" Xia’s voice betrayed a hint of bitterness, her guard still firmly in place.

There was a momentary pause on the other end as if her mother was carefully considering her words. When she spoke again, her voice carried a tone of remorse. "I know it's been a long time, and I understand that you're angry with me. But I need you to know that I miss you, Xixi. I miss you more than words can express."

Tears welled up in Xixi’s eyes, the weight of her mother's words pressing against her chest. Despite the pain, a flicker of longing and hope ignited within her. She had carried her mother's absence like an open wound, but this unexpected call made her realize that she, too, yearned for reconnection.

"Why didn't you call me, Mom?" Xia’s voice softened, revealing the vulnerability she had long tried to shield. "Why reach out after all this time?"

Her mother let out a heavy sigh, her voice filled with regret. "I can't change the past and I won't even if I could, Xixi. I've made mistakes, and I've hurt you deeply. But I've come to realize that life is too short to let our differences keep us apart. I want a chance to make things right, to rebuild what we've lost."

Xia felt her heart waver between skepticism and a glimmer of optimism. The wounds were deep, and the path to healing would be arduous. But at that moment, she understood that forgiveness and reconciliation could offer them both a chance at redemption.

Tears streamed down Xia’s face as she whispered, "I miss you too, Mom. Let's try to find a way back to each other."

In that shared moment of vulnerability and mutual longing, mother and daughter took their first tentative steps toward healing their fractured bond. The journey ahead wouldn't be easy, but the call served as a catalyst, igniting a flicker of hope that, with time and effort, could blossom into a rekindled relationship between them.

Ren Liu remains silent as the conversation between the mother and daughter progresses. He felt content with his wife wrapped in his arms as she talks to her mother.

After what seemed like an eternity, Xia returned the phone to her husband. She never expected to reconnect with her so fast just a few weeks after her rebirth. Xia burrowed her face into her husband’s shoulder, inhaling the smell that was purely Liu.

“Are you alright?” Her husband asked worriedly upon feeling the tears that sipped through his clothes. Ren Liu gently pats her back.

“Why?” She asked gravely, “Why is my heart so cold? How could I ignore them for many years?”

Her husband sighs before tightly wrapping her in his arms. “My love, you were a child. You never expected them to do it. They were in a tight situation.”

“Why me?” She snapped.

“Xi they know that you are strong. They know that you can be successful in any path you take. My love they couldn’t give it to you that was why they married you to me.”

The room fell silent, save for the soft sound of her shaky breaths. Ren Liu spoke softly, his voice infused with tenderness. "Xia, my love, you don't have to carry this burden alone. I'm here for you. Please, let me help."

Xia’s throat tightened as she tried to put her overwhelming emotions into words. She fought back sobs, the intensity of her feelings threatening to overwhelm her once more. But Ren Liu’s unwavering support gave her the courage to open up.

“I... I feel lost, Liu," Xia whispered, her voice trembling with vulnerability. "Everything feels so heavy, and I don't know how to navigate through it all. I need you."

Ren Liu’s grip on her tightened, his eyes conveying his deep empathy. "I understand, Xia. Life can be challenging, and it's okay to feel overwhelmed. Remember, we're a team, and I'm here to lighten your load. Together, we can find a way through this."

Xia’s tears continued to flow, but they were no longer tears of despair. They were tears of release, And in Ren Liu’s presence, they became a shared burden, allowing her to find strength in vulnerability.

At that moment, the weight of Xia’s emotional turmoil began to lift, even if only temporarily. The knowledge that she wasn't alone, that her husband was there to support her.

Together, they sat there in that intimate embrace, enveloped in a cocoon of love and understanding. Ren Liu’s silent presence spoke volumes, assuring Xia that no matter how stormy life became, they would weather it together.

Xia began to find the strength to face her emotional struggles head-on, knowing that her husband's unwavering support would always be there to guide her through the darkest of times.