The moment Gu Jin stepped inside the Gu Mansion, the whole hall exploded with laughter, chatter, and joy.

Mrs. Gu was the first to rush forward. Her arms wrapped around Gu Jin so tightly that Gu Jin almost lost her balance.

"My daughter! My sweet daughter!" Mrs. Gu cried, her voice trembling. "I thought I would only see you after two or three years… but now you're here!"

Gu Jin chuckled softly and hugged her mother back.

"Mom, we do video calls almost every day. Why are you acting like we haven't met in centuries? And wherever I go, I will always return home. "

Even though she teased her, her lips curved into a warm smile, and her hands gently patted Mrs. Gu's back.

Everyone froze.

That smile… that gentle tone…

It wasn't the usual cold, distant Gu Jin. It was soft. It was warm.

Gu Jihu and Gu Jishi exchanged glances, their eyes wide. Gu Jichun, who was closest, felt her throat tighten.

Meanwhile Mr. Gu's stern expression softened too, on a closer look, his eyes was shimmering with tears.

'My daughter... my daughter... she is finally going to be cured!'

"She smiled," Gu Jihu whispered.

"She… she really smiled," Gu Jishi muttered back.

They hadn't noticed much change before, since Gu Jin always talked with them daily through calls.

But now, seeing her standing here, laughing and showing so much warmth, it was like she was a completely different person.

For a moment, all the Gu family members felt their eyes moisten.

Hope flickered in their hearts. Maybe… maybe Gu Jin's mental illness was healing, and it wasn't as complex as it had sounded.

Gu Jichun couldn't hold herself back. She stepped forward and hugged her sister tightly.

"Gu Jin, I'm proud of you," she said firmly.

Gu Jin chuckled. "Of course. I knew I would win the case either way."

But Gu Jichun shook her head. "No, I'm not talking about the case. I'm talking about you. You are letting us heal you. You are letting us in. That is what makes me proud."

Gu Jin paused. For a second, her lips parted, but no words came out. Then, slowly, she smiled again.

This time, she realized it clearly. She felt it.... the happiness, the warmth of her family.

Her emotions, which used to be only cold, cruel, or merciless, were still there, but now they didn't fade away quickly. She felt them lingering inside her.

Suspicion, fear, panic, joy, even disgust...she could sense them all. And strangely, she was grateful.

She thought to herself,

'If it wasn't for my family, friends, and Long Yifan, maybe I would have lost touch with these emotions long ago.… and that is exactly what those people in God City wanted. No... I will never let them succeed.'

Her mother's soft voice broke her thoughts. "Jin, I made all your favorite foods today. Go wash your hands first."

Before Gu Jin could answer, Gu Jichun suddenly crossed her arms and put on a fake angry face.

"What? Why is it always her favorite food? I never get the chance to eat mine. Mom, you're being unfair!"

Mrs. Gu playfully slapped her arm.

"Stop whining! If that's the case, then I'll make your favorite dish the day after tomorrow. Don't compete with your sister today."

"Humph!" Gu Jichun rolled her eyes dramatically, then turned to Gu Jin.

"See? Only you pamper me and love me properly. Mom is biased."

And with that, she hugged Gu Jin again.

Gu Jin didn't push her away. She let her sister cling to her freely. And even muttered dotingly, "If you want, I can make your favorite food."

"Aww! You love me so much! But I love you equally! I was lying just now, I had helped mom in making those dishes too!" Gu Jichun stuck out her tongue and acted cute, causing Gu Jin to pinch her cheeks.

"Thank you, big sis." Gu Jin chuckled, her eyes flashing with a teasing glint.

The sight was particularly glaring for a few.

Gu Jihu and Gu Jishi stared at the scene, envy flashing in their eyes.

"Why does she get to hug Jin whenever she wants?" Gu Jihu muttered.

"Yeah, so unfair," Gu Jishi agreed, crossing his arms. If given the chance, he wanted to be reborn back to the time Gu Jin was only a child.

He would have definitely pampered her and monopolized her!

Long Yifan, who was standing at the side, also felt jealousy rising in his chest.

Only Gu Jichun was allowed to hug Gu Jin so casually, and Gu Jin never rejected her.

He sighed quietly. 'I'll need some compensation later. Maybe a hug… or two. Or maybe I can ask for some other freebies today.'

The thought made him grin without realizing it.

Lu Siyao, who had been silently watching, caught the grin. Her lips curled into an evil smirk.

She turned to Gu Jin and spoke sweetly, "Jin, after dinner, I want to talk with you. Just us two."

Gu Jin nodded calmly. "Alright. After dinner, we'll talk."

Lu Siyao nodded, satisfied. But her eyes flicked to Long Yifan, and she smirked mischievously.

Long Yifan's eyes narrowed in suspicion. The moment he saw that wicked smirk, he knew... whatever she was planning, it wasn't good for him.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward. "Wait! Before you talk with Jin, I have something to give you, Siyao."

Both Gu Jin and Lu Siyao blinked in surprise.

"What?" Lu Siyao tilted her head.

Long Yifan waved his hand, and a folder appeared out of thin air. He handed it to her with a mysterious smile. "Here. Take a look."

Curiosity sparked in her eyes. She slowly opened the folder.

The moment her gaze fell on the papers inside, her whole body froze.

Her eyes widened. Her lips trembled. She rubbed her eyes as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

She turned sharply toward Long Yifan. "Is… is this true?"

Long Yifan didn't say anything. He only smirked and raised an eyebrow.

Lu Siyao's hands shook as she clutched the folder tighter. She snapped it shut and turned toward Gu Jin.

"I… I have something important to do. I'll talk to you later, Jin."

Gu Jin frowned slightly. "Is everything alright?"

Lu Siyao forced a weak smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry. But if I don't go now, I'll regret it later. So… I'll leave first."

Gu Jin studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Go ahead."

"Thanks," Lu Siyao whispered.

She hurried away, clutching the folder like it was her lifeline.

Gu Jin's red eyes turned toward Long Yifan. "What did you give her?"

Long Yifan's grin widened. "Oh, nothing much. Just something she's been secretly wishing for."

"Stop being mysterious and tell me," Gu Jin said flatly.

He didn't hide it. "Do you remember two years ago when Fei Hanzhu suddenly disappeared for a while? Everyone thought she left because she couldn't reach Fei Hanzhu."

Fei Hanzhu was Long Yifan's best friend and one of the military personnel.

Gu Jin nodded. "Yes. I remember."

"Well," Long Yifan continued, "the truth is, the Fei family forced Fei Hanzhu into an engagement he never wanted. To escape their control, he transferred all his rights to the military. Even his marriage rights. He declared that the military could decide his marriage and that he would never approve it on his own."

Gu Jin's brows furrowed. "The military's marriage rights? That's… rare."

Long Yifan nodded.

"Exactly. The military here is stricter. They don't allow their soldiers to marry any girl randomly, otherwise it will bring disasters. They even watch the high-ranking generals closely."

There were laws for the high-ranking officials that they can give away their marriage rights to the military but only few opt to do so.

"So Fei Hanzhu must have been cornered," Gu Jin murmured. "What happened after that?"

Long Yifan smirked again. "For the past two years, Siyao and Fei Hanzhu have been fooling around. Not dating officially, not committing, but… spending time together. Siyao knew he might never marry her, so she never gave him a proper yes. But in that folder…"

He leaned closer, his voice low, "…was an official approval for their marriage. Siyao applied for it secretly, and it just got confirmed."

Gu Jin blinked in shock. "What? Even I didn't know this much, and I'm her best friend."

Long Yifan shrugged proudly. "Well, I'm her brother-in-law. It's my duty to know everything, isn't it?"

Gu Jin sighed, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "You really are something."

"Of course," Long Yifan said smugly. "Now I just need to prepare myself for when Siyao comes back here crying or laughing or maybe both. Either way, I'll say, 'You owe me one.'"

Gu Jin rolled her eyes. "Honestly… you spend more time investigating my sisters than helping me."

Long Yifan placed a hand dramatically over his chest. "Nonsense! Everything I do is for you. If I don't keep an eye on them, they'll prank me every chance they get. I'm just protecting myself."