CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 280; YOU DON’T HAVE TO

"You don’t have to be nervous! They can’t do anything." Xu Xie’s parents were gentle and kind, so they wouldn’t reprimand her or act distant. Also, she has been a stay-at-home mom, so she is probably nervous to meet people.

"Hehe... Okay." She was truly nervous and her heart couldn’t stop pounding on her chest heavily.

"What are you nervous about? They won’t eat you just because you abandoned them; they have always yearned to see you. So, they will be thrilled to see you..." Xu Xie was the only girl amongst the several boys in that Xu lineage and she had cousins who were only boys, so in this family, Tang Fei was like their daughter too.

"Hehe..." Tang Fei laughed it off, trying to calm down. It was normal to be nervous, after all, she was a replacement for her sister in this body.

The SUV glided off the highway, turning down a quieter road flanked by tall iron gates and a line of security posts. As they neared the Xu estate, the lights lining the driveway came alive, casting golden pools of light across the neatly paved path.

Tang Fei gently shook Zhihao and the other kids, murmuring, "We are stopping for a while, babies. Just a quick visit."

He mumbled something unintelligible and shifted against Minghao. Qingqing stirred but didn’t wake. Feihao, alert and curious, sat up straighter. Tinghao also woke up.

The SUV rolled to a smooth stop before a grand colonial-style mansion bathed in soft garden lights.

Even after all these years, the house hadn’t changed much, white stone pillars, ivy creeping up the east wing, and the scent of jasmine blooming in the evening air.

The van door opened and Tang Fei stepped out first, followed by Xu Xie.

Huo Ting Cheng remained seated inside, eyes briefly flicking toward the entrance with his usual unreadable expression. He squeezed Tang Fei’s fingers once before releasing her.

The kids had woken up too, and alighted, so did Qin Xinyu and Twilight.

Tang Fei hesitated for a moment, "Do I look okay?" She nervously gazed at Xu Xie.

Xu Xie got closer, placing her arm around her shoulders protectively, "Yes, of course, in their eyes, you are perfect!" She giggled seeing her tense like that. She actually hadn’t expected her to behave like this.

"Momma... You just look good!" Zhihao walked over and held her hand comforting her after seeing she was tensed.

"Hehe... All right, let’s go..." With Xu Xie leading, they walked over to the mansion as Huo Ting Cheng trailed behind them. Several jeeps were parked just beside the SUV, alighting and getting the fruits and other things they had bought along the way.

As they walked toward the front steps, the large oak doors creaked open from the inside. Xu Xie actually hadn’t notified them that Tang Fei would drop by; they were expecting to see Xu Xie since they hadn’t seen their daughter in a few days.

As the doors slid open, an older woman, graceful in a navy qipao with silver embroidery, stood beneath the ornate chandelier in the foyer.

Her hair, tied in a low bun, shimmered with streaks of gray, but her sharp eyes softened the moment they landed on Xu Xie, and then widened at the sight of Tang Fei. Even after a few years, Tang Fei hadn’t really changed that much apart from getting lighter and beautiful.

"Fei Fei? Is it really you?" she whispered, her voice already trembling as her eyes blurred from tears that were already glistening.

Tang Fei stiffened and felt slightly awkward, then a minute later she bowed her head politely greeting her. "Auntie... It’s been a long time."

Even though there hasn’t been any news about her, Huo Ting Cheng had hidden her away completely.

Before she could say another word, the woman crossed the marble floor and pulled her into a tight embrace, she had truly missed her and wondered every single day how she was doing. "Silly girl... How could you vanish for so many years and not even write or call us? We thought we lost you!"

Tang Fei blinked rapidly, her throat tightening. She wasn’t sure how to respond to that, was this grief for the real Tang Fei or pure joy for who they thought had returned to them? But she was glad that her sister had such a kind family by her side and probably never appreciated them.

Xu Xie smiled beside them, her own eyes misting, and happy for her father and mother, she didn’t mind sharing her parents with Tang Fei. "Mom, don’t scare her. You will crush her ribs if you hold her that tightly!"

"Hahaha..." Tang Fei and Old Madam Xu laughed simultaneously, chasing the awkwardness away.

"I’m sorry Auntie... It’s my fault!" She knew she was the one at fault; they didn’t know anything about the gone soul and the replaced soul. She was Tang Fei and she would have to acknowledge these mistakes.

"You don’t have to apologise my dear... I understand!" It felt like a heavy burden suddenly lifted in Old Madam Xu’s heart and Tang Fei’s.

Another man walked in, tall, stern-looking, his temples touched with white, but his bearing was still upright like a retired general. Tang Fei recognized him vaguely from the flickers of memory she had retrieved.

Old Master Xu didn’t say anything at first. He simply looked at her, those years of silence, of wondering, playing out behind his eyes.

Then he nodded once, sharply, as though affirming a conclusion only he understood. "You are home. That’s enough."

Tang Fei bowed deeply, gratefully. They didn’t blame her, and neither reprimanded her for abandoning them. "Thank you, Uncle."

The children trickled in behind her, uncertain but curious about this new place and people. Mrs. Xu looked over and gasped with joy seeing the beautiful babies. "Are these your children? Goodness, they have grown so big! And so beautiful." She had heard Tang Fei had given birth, but hadn’t expected it would be quadruplets; they resembled each other, and those blue eyes were taken after their father. They were cute and adorable.