Li Wanran gradually grew accustomed to her new identity.

A housewife taking care of children at home.

She reached out to open the refrigerator, staring at the various ingredients inside. She seemed to want to prepare a lavish dinner, but when it came time to actually do it, she realized she didn't know how to cook.

Standing frozen before the refrigerator for a long time, Li Wanran eventually closed it.

Taking a few uneasy steps back, she soon left the kitchen. Her gaze inadvertently fell on the wall clock, noticing there was less than half an hour until her daughter returned from school.

In the end, Li Wanran picked up the home phone and called for takeout.

After the food arrived, she arranged it neatly on the dining table. Just as she finished, her daughter came through the door.

"Mom!"

Carrying a backpack, ten-year-old Liu Xiazhi quickly ran toward Li Wanran after changing into slippers.

It was clear she adored her mother.

Standing by the table, Li Wanran hadn't fully processed things when she felt her daughter hug her tightly from behind. Though slightly uncomfortable at first, a faint smile soon appeared on her face.

She turned around to face her daughter.

Her hand lifted.

Resting on the girl's head, gently stroking.

"Xia... Xiazhi..."

As she spoke her daughter's name, there was a slight unfamiliarity in her voice for some reason.

But the young girl didn't seem to notice anything amiss. Clinging to her mother, she greedily enjoyed the moment, occasionally nuzzling against her.

"I'm hungry!"

Hearing this, Li Wanran paused briefly before glancing at the neatly arranged takeout on the table.

Her gaze returned to her daughter.

"Then eat first."

"Mhm!"

Liu Xiazhi seemed to have been waiting for this permission. Happily taking off her backpack and placing it on the sofa, she washed her hands in the bathroom before eagerly sitting at the table, eyeing the spread of food—especially her favorite fried chicken.

Easily pleased, her face lit up with joy when she realized her mother had ordered it.

"Thanks, Mom!"

"Mmm..."

Unsure why her daughter was thanking her, Li Wanran watched as the girl began eating. After hesitating, she pulled out a chair and sat down.

Across from her daughter.

Watching as the child opened her mouth wide to bite into a chicken leg.

Her gaze grew distant.

Li Wanran had never done this before—never sat quietly across from her daughter, watching her eat.

In her memories, such scenes were rare.

At some point, a warm smile appeared on her usually indifferent face.

Tilting her head slightly, she silently observed her daughter eating.

"Mom, aren't you eating?"

Noticing her mother's unusual behavior, Liu Xiazhi asked between bites of fried chicken.

Li Wanran snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head gently.

"I'll wait for your father."

"Okay."

Accepting this answer, Liu Xiazhi continued eating.

Children don't eat much, and soon she was full.

After a quick rinse, she obediently took her backpack to her room to do homework.

Meanwhile, Li Wanran sat alone on the sofa, staring at the turned-off TV.

Time passed quietly.

Her daughter came out a few times wanting to watch TV, but Li Wanran gently persuaded her to return to her room.

Her husband was over an hour late from his promised return time, which inexplicably made her anxious.

Checking the time on her phone.

Waiting silently.

The sky darkened outside.

After what felt like forever, Li Wanran finally heard the door open. She immediately stood up from the sofa.

Watching as Liu Changqing stepped inside.

"Got held up at work. Did Xiazhi eat already?"

"..."

Receiving no reply after changing his shoes, Liu Changqing looked up in confusion—only to see Li Wanran staring at him strangely.

Puzzled, he asked:

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like—"

Before he could finish, his words were cut off as Li Wanran suddenly rushed forward and embraced him.

Stunned.

A few seconds later, he looked down at his wife in his arms, both amused and bewildered.

"What's this? Are you being clingy? Did you watch some drama and decide to test it out on me?"

"Changqing..."

"I'm here. What is it?"

"It's really you..."

"Huh?"

"It's not a dream..."

Holding him tightly, Li Wanran listened to the heartbeat in his chest. The anxiety that had been choking her finally eased.

All this time, she had believed everything happening was just a dream.

But hearing her husband's steady heartbeat dispelled that thought.

Alive.

Not a dream.

Liu Changqing, unaware of her thoughts, stood confused as his wife clung to him, murmuring strange things.

This wasn't like her at all.

It felt... novel.

After a while, the position became uncomfortable. He tried to free himself but couldn't, sighing in resignation.

"We can hug more tonight. Let me eat first—I'm starving."

"..."

"Ah..."

Seeing his wife remain unmoved, Liu Changqing shuffled them both toward the dining table. Picking up chopsticks, he ate some of the now-cold food.

"I'll learn to cook from now on..."

His chopsticks froze mid-air. Liu Changqing stared at Li Wanran in his arms as if she'd said something impossible.

"You...?"

"I'll take better care of our home. I'll look after the children properly..."

"..."

Chopsticks in hand, they stood awkwardly by the table in this ridiculous position.

Neither spoke.

After a long silence, Liu Changqing finally responded:

"Okay. I'll look forward to it."

He didn't see it.

The genuine, relieved smile spreading across Li Wanran's face in his embrace.

Later, when their son Liu Zhiyue returned from night study sessions, Li Wanran eagerly took over reheating his meal—much to his surprise.

Watching his mother head to the kitchen, he turned to his father.

"What's up with Mom? She's acting totally different."

"Not sure..."

Replying to his son, Liu Changqing was equally confused.

His wife had been completely normal when they went to bed last night. Now she was like...

He couldn't quite describe it. It was as if this Li Wanran wasn't the same woman he'd married and raised children with.

A very strange feeling.

Once the food was ready, Liu Zhiyue sat down to eat while Li Wanran watched quietly—just as she had with his sister earlier.

The attention made him uncomfortable.

Putting down his chopsticks, he looked at his mother across the table.

"Mom, do you have something to tell me?"

"..."

"Mom?"

"Zhiyue, say that again."

"Uh..."

Though confused, he obliged.

"Mom, do you have something to tell me?"

"Say the first word again."

"Mom..."

"..."

Hearing that word from her son's mouth—this boy still in junior high—Li Wanran's smiling face slowly lowered.

It had been years since she'd heard him call her that.

Not since her divorce from Liu Changqing.

Seeing his mother's odd behavior, Liu Zhiyue lost the urge to question further and quietly resumed eating.

At bedtime, after everyone had washed up, the children went to their rooms while Li Wanran returned to the master bedroom.

Back to the bed she'd woken up in that morning.

Standing by the bed, she looked at her husband reading against the headboard.

After a long hesitation, she finally lay down.

Turning her back to him, she pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.

Her breathing grew heavier.

Hearing movement behind her, she felt Liu Changqing reach over to turn off the bedside lamp.

Then his hand...

"W-Wait!"

"What?"

In the darkness, Liu Changqing stopped at his wife's sudden protest.

After a pause, her voice came again:

"Never mind..."

"Don't worry, I'll be quiet. The kids won't hear."

Assuming that was her concern, he chuckled before continuing.

Then... in the pitch-black room.

He moved over her.

——————————————————

Pushing open the hospital room door, Liu Changqing entered.

He walked straight to the window, staring outside for a while before turning to face the woman lying on the bed.

Li Wanran.

His gaze held no emotion—as if looking at a stranger.

Time passed silently. Just as he was about to leave, he noticed a slight twitch of her eyelids.

A tiny movement, but he caught it.

Stopping by the bed, he looked down at the once-proud woman now lying helpless.

After a moment, Li Wanran's eyes slowly opened.

Her dazed gaze focused on Liu Changqing standing beside her.

She froze.

Then, after a long silence, she smiled weakly and uttered two words:

"Husband..."

"..."

His brows furrowed.

Liu Changqing stared at the awakened Li Wanran in utter bewilderment.