A reborn mother longs for her daughter's happiness.

Chapter 98 A World for Two: Balancing Love and Family

Li Yuan stood in the middle of the somewhat empty living room, stretched lazily, turned to look at Liu Xuan, and her eyes sparkled with a long-lost sense of ease and anticipation: "Honey, look how much quieter this house is all of a sudden. Shi Qing, Yi Xin, and Qi Cheng have all gone to boarding school. It's such a rare moment of peace and quiet."

Liu Xuan put down the newspaper, raised his head slightly, and unconsciously smiled. "Yeah, it suddenly feels like time has slowed down. Honey, what do you think we should do today?"

Li Yuan's eyes lit up, and she excitedly suggested, "How about we go shopping? It's been so long since we've had a proper shopping trip. We can go see if there are any new clothes for the new season."

Liu Xuan stood up, walked to Li Yuan's side, and gently put his arm around her waist: "Shopping is nice, but we should treat ourselves afterward. I heard that a very unique barbecue restaurant recently opened in the city center, and it has a great reputation. How about we go for barbecue after shopping?"

Upon hearing about the delicious food, Li Yuan immediately perked up: "Barbecue? That's awesome! I haven't had barbecue in ages. Just thinking about those sizzling, oily meat skewers and fragrant grilled chicken wings makes my mouth water."

The two set off immediately, quickly tidying up before heading out. Arriving at the bustling pedestrian shopping street, Li Yuan was like a bird released from its cage, happily flitting between the shops. She stopped in front of a women's clothing store, her eyes captivated by an exquisite dress displayed in the window.

"Honey, do you think this dress looks good?" Li Yuan asked Liu Xuan, pointing at the dress.

Liu Xuan looked at it carefully, smiled and said, "It looks good. My wife looks good in everything. Why don't you go in and try it on?"

Li Yuan entered the store and tried on the dress. When she emerged from the fitting room, she resembled an elegant fairy, the hem of her dress swaying gently with her steps. Liu Xuan was stunned: "It's so beautiful, like it was tailor-made for you. Buy it!"

Li Yuan twirled around in front of the mirror a few times, a happy smile on her face, but she hesitated slightly: "But this dress seems a bit expensive..."

Liu Xuan stepped forward and took her hand: "What's wrong with spending a little more? What matters most is that you like it. Besides, we rarely splurge like this."

At Liu Xuan's insistence, Li Yuan finally bought the dress. Afterwards, they visited several other stores and bought some household items and small accessories.

After walking around for several hours, the two of them were a little tired, and their stomachs started to rumble. Liu Xuan checked the time and said, "Honey, I think it's about time we went to get some barbecue, or my stomach will start to protest."

Li Yuan smiled and nodded: "Okay, I can't wait."

They arrived at the legendary barbecue restaurant, where the air was filled with the rich aroma of grilled meat. The waiter warmly greeted them and led them to a table by the window.

Liu Xuan took the menu, looked at the dazzling array of dishes, and said to Li Yuan, "Wife, what would you like to eat? Order whatever you like, it's on me today."

Li Yuan's eyes lit up as she looked at the menu: "I want lamb skewers, grilled chicken wings, grilled eggplant, grilled corn... Oh my, I want so many things, what should I do?"

Liu Xuan smiled indulgently: "Then order a little of everything. If we can't finish it, we can pack it up and take it home so the kids can have some too."

After ordering, Liu Xuan and Li Yuan sat down and chatted while drinking the tea brought by the waiter.

"Honey, do you think the kids will miss us at school?" Li Yuan asked with some concern.

Liu Xuan comforted them, "Don't worry, the kids are all grown up and will take good care of themselves. Besides, they have so many classmates and friends at school, they must be having a great time. We should also enjoy some time for ourselves."

Soon, the skewers and dishes were served one after another. Li Yuan couldn't wait to pick up a skewer of lamb, took a small bite, and the tender and juicy lamb melted in her mouth. She couldn't help but exclaim with satisfaction, "Mmm, so delicious! This restaurant really lives up to its reputation."

Liu Xuan also picked up a skewer of grilled chicken wings and took a big bite: "Yeah, it tastes really good. Honey, try this grilled eggplant, it's grilled to perfection."

Li Yuan picked up a piece of grilled eggplant and put it in her mouth, savoring it slowly: "Mmm, delicious. Honey, I'm so happy today, I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time."

Looking at the happy smile on Li Yuan's face, Liu Xuan's heart was filled with love: "As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. We should find more opportunities like this in the future, to go out shopping and have meals together, and enjoy some time alone together."

The two enjoyed their barbecue while sharing snippets of their lives, their laughter echoing throughout the restaurant. After finishing their meal, they strolled hand in hand through the night streets, feeling the gentle breeze and enjoying each other's company.

The morning sunlight streamed softly through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating Li Yuan and Liu Xuan's bed. Li Yuan slowly woke up, stretched, and turned to look at Liu Xuan, who was still asleep, a gentle smile playing on her lips. She gently nudged Liu Xuan: "Honey, wake up! We still have to go to the airport to pick up my parents today. Their round-the-world trip is over, and they're finally coming home."

Liu Xuan opened his eyes groggily, mumbled a few words, and then sat up with a start: "Oh dear, I almost forgot about that. Mom and Dad must have had a great trip. I wonder which fun places they went to."

As Li Yuan got up to make the bed, she excitedly said, "I heard from my mom in a text message that they went to France and spent a long time at the Louvre in Paris, lingering over the art treasures. They also went to Egypt and saw the pyramids in person. My dad said that when he stood at the foot of the pyramids, the awe he felt was indescribable; it made him feel how insignificant humanity is in the face of history and nature. They also went to Kyoto, Japan, and experienced traditional tea ceremonies and hot springs, saying it was incredibly pleasant."

As Liu Xuan listened, he headed to the bathroom to wash up: "That sounds really good. We should take a proper trip sometime in the future. But putting that aside for now, what should we prepare for the airport today?"

Li Yuan thought for a moment: "I think we can prepare some food first, since Mom and Dad might not have eaten well on the plane. We can also bring some hot tea, so they can feel more comfortable after getting off the plane. Oh, and we should also clean the house thoroughly, so they can feel a warm welcome as soon as they come back."

The two quickly got to work. Li Yuan went into the kitchen and began preparing a simple meal. She cooked some porridge, fried a few eggs, and toasted some bread. Liu Xuan, on the other hand, tidied up the living room, organizing the children's photos and placing them in a prominent position, and also neatly arranging the cushions on the sofa.

Li Yuan called out from the kitchen, "Honey, can you find the tea I brought for Mom and Dad? I remember it was in the cupboard, but I can't find it!"

Liu Xuan went into the kitchen to help search: "Did you move it after you finished using it last time? Don't worry, let's look carefully again." After searching for a while, they finally found the tea leaves in a corner.

After everything was ready, they headed to the airport. On the way, Li Yuan was both excited and worried: "I wonder how my parents are feeling. They must be exhausted after such a long trip. I hope they haven't gotten sick or encountered anything unpleasant."

Liu Xuan held her hand: "Don't worry, Mom and Dad are definitely fine. They went on a trip to relax, so they should be having a great time. Besides, they've always been very active and healthy."

Upon arriving at the airport, Li Yuan and Liu Xuan found a seat in the arrivals hall. Li Yuan kept looking towards the exit, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Seeing her nervous expression, Liu Xuan smiled and said, "Honey, the plane hasn't arrived yet, don't be in such a hurry. Let's sit for a while, I'll tell you a joke."

Li Yuan rolled her eyes at him: "What time is it, and you still have the mind to tell jokes? Fine, go ahead and tell one."

Liu Xuan cleared his throat: "Xu Xian bought his wife a hat, and Bai Suzhen died after wearing it. Do you know why? Because it was a duckbill (snake) cap."

Li Yuan laughed, "Where did you get these lame jokes from? But they're actually quite funny."

A moment later, an airport announcement came over the loudspeaker that Li Yuan's parents' flight was about to arrive. Li Yuan immediately stood up, straightened her clothes, and walked to the exit with Liu Xuan.

As the passengers gradually disembarked, Li Yuan finally spotted her parents. She waved excitedly, "Dad, Mom, we're here!"

Li Yuan's parents dragged their luggage, their faces showing tired but happy smiles.

Li Yuan quickly went to greet her parents and gave them a big hug: "Mom and Dad, you're finally back! I missed you so much!"

Li Yuan's father said with a smile, "My dear daughter, we missed you too. This trip was wonderful, and we have so many stories to tell you."

Liu Xuan stepped forward and took the luggage: "Mom and Dad, you must be tired from the journey. Get in the car and get some rest when you get home."

On the way home, Li Yuan's mother sat in the back seat, holding Li Yuan's hand and saying, "Daughter, we've been to so many places this time, and seen different scenery and cultures. In France, we went to Versailles Palace. That palace was simply magnificent, with glittering decorations everywhere, and the gardens were especially beautiful, meticulously manicured. And in Italy, the Colosseum in Rome made you feel the vicissitudes of history. Although only ruins remain, you can still imagine the spectacular scene it once was."

Li Yuan listened intently: "Mom, did you meet any interesting people on your trip?"

Li Yuan's father chimed in, "Of course! In Thailand, we met a local young man who was incredibly enthusiastic. He offered to be our guide, taking us to some lesser-known attractions that only locals know about, and even treated us to authentic Thai food. I still can't forget the taste of that Tom Yum soup."

Liu Xuan, who was driving, smiled and said, "That sounds great. Mom and Dad, you not only had a great time on this trip, but you also learned a lot."

Li Yuan's mother nodded and said, "Yes, you only realize how big the world is after you go out and see it. By the way, how are the children? How are they doing at school?"

Li Yuan replied, "They are all doing well. They live on campus and their studies and lives are going smoothly. Shi Qing and Yi Xin participate in some school club activities, and Qi Cheng is also studying hard. We don't need to worry about them too much."

After returning home, Li Yuan and Liu Xuan helped their parents carry their luggage inside. Looking at the clean and cozy home, Li Yuan's mother said with relief, "Home is the best. Although we had fun outside, it never felt as reassuring as home."

Li Yuan said, "Mom, you two rest for a bit. I'll go get the food I prepared. You probably didn't eat well on the plane."

The family sat around the dining table, eating the food prepared by Li Yuan and sharing their travel experiences.

Looking at everyone, Li Yuan's father said with emotion, "This trip was made possible by your support, which gave us the opportunity to realize our dreams. Being together as a family is the greatest happiness."

Li Yuan and Liu Xuan exchanged a smile. They knew that no matter how busy or turbulent life was, the companionship and support of family would always be the most important thing.