Li Jain did not bring the children through the tavern door, the crowd outside was still too noisy, and the guests inside were also curious. If he entered in like this, he wouldn't leave any time soon and besides, he doesn't even know the person that came. He and the children entered through the backdoor instead.
The moment they stepped into the living room, the triplets froze. Even the older ones paused instinctively, their expressions showing a mixture of confusion, surprise, and deep thought all at once.
Right in front of them, a woman was sitting at the side table as if she belonged there.
She wore heavy makeup, her lips a glossy red, her brows drawn sharply, her cheeks powdered until they looked porcelain smooth.
A jeweled hairpin held up half her hair, and the other half spilled down her shoulders in waves. In her hand was a small spoon, and in front of her sat a delicate dessert bowl, snowy cream topped with crushed candied petals.
She was eating slowly, savoring it without a care in the world. When she saw them, she jerked slightly, her spoon pausing in her mouth.
For a couple of seconds, doubts flashed through her eyes as she checked them out. It took a while for her to remember them.
She quickly composed herself, her face softened into a sweet bright smile.
"My babies," she called warmly, rising from her seat: "You've grown so much."
Li Jingsheng's body stiffened. His face went cold so fast it was as if frost had formed under his skin. Li Jingxuan took one step back without thinking, his gaze darting toward Li Jain like he was seeking permission of how to respond to the current situation.
Juanxin, who had been walking at Li Jain's side, immediately clutched his father's sleeve with both hands and tucked himself closer, as he peek at the woman.
The woman opened her arms, as if she expected the triplets to run into them: "Come here," she coaxed: "Let Mother hug you."
Neither Jingsheng nor Jingxuan moved. In fact, they frowned and retreated another step.
The woman's smile didn't drop, but her eyes sharpened instantly. She swallowed that reaction remembering her goal. She took a step back as if nothing had happened.
Li Jain watched all of it, then frowned slightly. He searched his mind again and again but found nothing. The original owner's memories were full of scattered faces and meaningless flirtations, but no clear picture of this woman or the other women he was with.
Li Jain had no choice but to find out the woman's identity himself: "Who are you?" He asked neither arrogantly nor politely.
The woman's fingers curled for a moment. She looked deeply offended, like a slap had landed on her face. But she held her smile in place with ease, biting back the humiliation.
"So you really forgot," she said softly, with a hint of wounded pride: "You men are all the same."
Li Jain's brows rose, still waiting for her to introduce herself. He didn't think much of her soft and hurt expression.
She took a slow breath, then introduced herself with a gentle tilt of her chin.
"My name is Fang Ruyin. I am… the mother of the triplets." She added after a pause: "I'm not sure whether you forgot after just a few years or just pretending to not recognize me."
The air in the living room changed and the children's shoulders grew tighter, and the air became heavier.
Li Jain didn't notice the change in the atmosphere, his expression softened immediately. He stepped forward and welcomed her, as if this was simply a late guest arriving for tea.
"I see." He nodded: "Then welcome. If you're here to see the children, you can visit anytime. As the child's mother, you have that right, as long as my precious children are happy."
He meant what he said, and he wasn't wrong to have come to that conclusion; But the children did not look happy. Not one of them.
Fang Ruyin's smile brightened at his words, and she moved a little closer, as if she had just received permission to settle in comfortably.
Li Jain didn't notice the way Jingsheng's fingers clenched. He didn't notice Jingxuan's jaw tightening as if he was swallowing something bitter. He didn't notice Juanxin's hands trembling around his sleeve.
Because he was looking at the situation as a father trying to be fair, not as someone who understood the past. Honestly, apart from the fact that the original owner had seven children and was kicked out of the Li family after being poisoned and losing his cultivation, Li Jain knew nothing about the original owner's past.
The past, however, was sitting right there in front of them.
The woman who had abandoned them when they were kicked out of the Li family.
The woman who had once lived in the main residence and treated the triplets like burdens, venting her frustration on them whenever she felt cornered, jealous, or powerless.
To the children, her presence did not feel like "Mother." It felt like being dragged back into a cage they had escaped.
Fang Ruyin, on the other hand, looked around the living room as if she was admiring her own luck.
She had come at a good time. They were cleaner, better dressed, and their bodies were healthier.
And most importantly; Li Jain looked rich.
Not just a little rich;The kind of rich that made people lose sleep.
Her smile grew gentler, and her voice sweeter: "I really missed them." She murmured.
Li Yujian's gaze stayed calm, but something dark flickered beneath his eyes.
He didn't speak out loud. Instead, he sent a sound transmission to his siblings.
'It's okay, don't panic. Stay close to Father, and say as little as possible.'
Jingsheng's eyes lowered slightly in acknowledgment.
Jingxuan's throat bobbed as he swallowed, then he nodded faintly.
Juanxin was too afraid to even nod, he just pressed close to Li Jain.
Li Jain didn't listen in to their silent exchange, but he did feel the strange stiffness in the room. Still, he told himself they were simply tired. It had been a long day.
🪷🪷🪷
That evening, the dining table was unusually silent. The dishes were still delicious, but the usual chaos was missing.
No one fought over meat. Li Zhang and Jingxuan didn't even argue about who deserved the biggest piece, which was a rare event on its own.
Fang Ruyin sat neatly to the side, eating lavishly, her eyes moving from child to child with lazy interest.
Li Jain tried to bring back normal conversation, but that didn't help either.
He asked, "Any concerns about the schools you enrolled in?"
"It's alright," Yuhan answered.
"No issues," Cheng said.
"It's fine," Yujian replied.
"It's okay," Jingsheng said.
Each answer was short, and none of them spoke unless Li Jain asked first.
As the minutes passed, the dinner turned into a one-sided conversation.
Li Jain talked about the tailor recommended by Boss Lan, and how the school uniforms would be collected tomorrow. He talked about adding defensive talismans to their outfits so they could wear them daily without worrying about damaging them.
Even when he made a joke, no one laughed. Meanwhile, Fang Ruyin listened with growing satisfaction. The colder the children acted toward her, the less she cared.
After all, she wasn't here for them.
She was here because of the rumor of Li Jain being the owner of the Spiritual Tavern, the most rated spiritual restaurant that just opened.
And for the short time she'd spent here, she realized something valuable; Li Jain loved his children deeply, including hers.
If she played her cards right, she could use that love like a key to extract resources.
Li Yujian watched her greedy expression and felt disgust rise in his chest.
After dinner, the children did something that felt almost impossible.
They excused themselves. Even the little ones who usually stuck to Li Jain like glue bowed their heads and said they wanted to rest.
Li Jain blinked in surprise: "Already?" he asked gently: "No dessert?"
"We're tired, Father," Jingxuan said quickly.
"Oh, ok"
Li Jain watched their backs disappear into the hallway. Something felt odd, but he couldn't wrap his hands around it.
Fang Ruyin dabbed her lips with a handkerchief and smiled faintly, as if everything was going exactly as she wanted.