Opening her eyes.

Li Wanran stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar ceiling above her.

For a moment, she fell into complete silence.

Sunlight streamed through the window into the room, bathing her lying form in its warm embrace. A cozy sensation spread throughout her entire body.

It had been a long time since she'd last felt this way.

After an unknown period, Li Wanran finally threw off the covers, slipped into her slippers, and gazed somewhat blankly at the window in the room.

At the sky outside.

Where was this?

This thought surfaced in her mind as she sat alone on the bedside, unconsciously scanning her surroundings. The interior decor made her realize this wasn't where she normally lived.

Before she could ponder further, the bedroom door opened.

A man brushing his teeth while holding a toothbrush in his mouth pushed the door open.

He spoke to Li Wanran's back.

"Honey, time to get up for breakfast."

"..."

The familiar voice made Li Wanran's body stiffen abruptly. She slowly turned to look behind her.

At the man leaning against the doorframe, still brushing his teeth.

Her gaze fixed on his face...

Her eyes widened as if seeing someone impossible, shock instantly flooding her heart.

Her lips parted unconsciously as she uttered his name.

"Liu Changqing..."

"What's wrong? Why the full name all of a sudden?"

The toothbrushing man paused his motions, mouth still foaming with toothpaste as he spoke somewhat unclearly. Looking at his wife sitting on the bed staring at him, he found it strange and walked over toothbrush in hand.

Reaching the bedside.

"Still half asleep?"

"You... why are you here?"

"This is our home. Where else would I be?"

Liu Changqing almost laughed at Li Wanran's question, but before he could, some foam sprayed from his mouth. Quickly catching it with his hand, he immediately turned and hurried out of the room.

Soon after finishing his brushing, he reappeared before Li Wanran.

Sitting down beside her.

His hand gently grasped hers.

The moment they made contact, Li Wanran felt an incredible sensation, staring blankly at this action.

Yet she didn't resist.

"Have you been overworking lately? I know tutoring Xiazhi has been exhausting, but you can't forget who I am, can you?"

"Xiazhi..."

Muttering the name, Li Wanran grew even more confused.

In her memory, because of things she'd done that deeply hurt her daughter, she hadn't seen her in a very long time...

Yet... this Liu Changqing before her claimed she'd been tutoring their daughter recently...

How could that be...

Growing increasingly bewildered, Li Wanran tried to pull her hand away, but abandoned the attempt almost immediately.

It had been so long since she'd felt this.

The feeling of someone holding her hand...

Looking at the man beside her, Li Wanran asked uncertainly:

"We... didn't get divorced?"

"Divorced? Why would you say that?"

"I mean..."

"I told you to watch less TV! Ever since you got hooked on dramas, you've been imagining all sorts of things, and even got Xiazhi watching with you!"

"..."

"How could we divorce? We're a longtime married couple with two kids. Unless there's cheating, there's no way we'd divorce..."

Hearing Liu Changqing mention infidelity, Li Wanran's eyes dimmed noticeably.

As if guilty, she slowly lowered her head.

"..."

Seeing his wife's clearly abnormal behavior today, Liu Changqing looked quite puzzled, his expression turning concerned. He reached up to feel her forehead, muttering:

"Do you have a fever? You seem really off today."

"Liu... honey!"

About to use his full name again, yet somehow as if by reflex, Li Wanran blurted out "honey" instead.

She grabbed the hand on her forehead.

Even she seemed surprised by her own actions.

After a pause, noticing Liu Changqing's worried gaze, Li Wanran remained silent for a long moment before finally shaking her head.

"I'm fine... probably just didn't sleep well last night..."

"Alright... if you're still tired, get some more rest."

"Mmm..."

"Then I'll go wake the kids for school. It's getting late - they'll be tardy."

With that, Liu Changqing released her hand and made to leave the room.

But before reaching the door, he heard movement behind him again.

"Honey!"

"What's up?"

Turning back once more to look at his wife.

Li Wanran pursed her lips.

Speaking softly:

"An... An Yuanyao... where is she?"

"..."

Hearing that name, the smile slowly faded from Liu Changqing's face.

His gaze dropped to the floor.

"Don't know. Maybe she went abroad..."

This answer left Li Wanran looking utterly perplexed. She couldn't fathom why An Yuanyao would be overseas.

Why... would she leave the country?

"Probably our marriage hit her too hard... but... never mind. Get some more sleep. I'll wake you after taking the kids to school."

Forcing a strained smile, Liu Changqing reached out and closed the bedroom door.

With the door shut, silence returned to the room.

Leaving Li Wanran alone on the bedside.

An Yuanyao went abroad...

Because Liu Changqing and I got married...

This made no sense to Li Wanran. She'd been with Liu Changqing in high school. Back then, An Yuanyao should have liked Li Chongming just as she had, not...

Liu Changqing.

After long contemplation, Li Wanran still couldn't understand what was happening.

As if moving automatically, she stood in her slippers and walked to the vanity.

Sitting down.

Staring blankly at her reflection.

That... rosy, flawless face...

She raised a hand, pressing her palm against her cheek.

Was this... a dream?

But... why did everything feel so real?

The touch, the warmth, the scents...

Her gaze shifted sideways.

To the photo frame on her nightstand, showing a family of four.

Unlike in her memories, the woman in this photo wasn't wearing a cold expression, but rather...

Beaming radiantly.

A genuine, heartfelt smile. The smile... of someone truly happy.

"Mom's not eating breakfast?"

"Shh, don't disturb her. Mom needs more sleep."

The voices from outside drew Li Wanran's attention. Instinctively she turned toward the door, listening to her daughter and husband's conversation.

"Okay..."

"Hurry up and wash up. Need to get you to school."

"Uh-huh!"

Then came footsteps, soon followed by her son's voice.

And so Li Wanran remained motionless, quietly seated at the vanity, listening to the sounds outside.

Until... her husband took the children to school.

And complete silence returned.

Only then did Li Wanran rise from the vanity and walk to the door.

Opening it.

Gazing out at the scene beyond.

This... was her home...