The gentle morning light streamed through the open windows of the house, casting warm golden hues on the wooden floors. The soft scent of fresh dew mixed with the aroma of breakfast, creating a cozy atmosphere. Inside, the small home was filled with the sound of laughter and the occasional pitter-patter of tiny feet running across the room.
Nan Cheng stood in the kitchen, her sleeves rolled up as she carefully set a plate of warm dumplings on the dining table. Across from her, a little girl with bright, curious eyes and chubby cheeks eagerly bounced in her seat. Xu'er, kicked her legs excitedly as she reached for a dumpling with her tiny hands.
"Slow down, Xu'er," Nan Cheng chuckled, gently placing a small spoon in front of her. "They're still hot."
"But Mama, they smell so good!" Xu'er pouted, puffing her cheeks in frustration.
From the side, Lan Xuanyu watched his little sister with amusement. His eyes sparkled as he rested his chin on his palm. "If you burn your tongue, don't come crying to me."
Xu'er shot him a glare but still obediently blew on her dumpling before taking a tiny bite. Her expression immediately brightened as she chewed, her little feet swinging under the table.
Just as the peaceful moment settled, the front door creaked open.
A tired but familiar voice called out, "I'm home."
Nan Cheng turned instantly, her eyes lighting up with warmth. "Lan Xiao!"
Xuanyu sat up straight, his eyes widening as he recognized his father's voice.
Before anyone else could react, Xu'er gasped loudly. "Papa!" she squealed, practically leaping from her chair.
Lan Xiao barely had time to set down his bag before a tiny figure barreled into his legs. He laughed, lifting Xu'er into his arms with ease. "You've gotten heavier," he teased, pressing a kiss to her soft cheek.
Xu'er giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I missed you so much, papa!"
"I missed you too, little one," Lan Xiao said, his voice filled with warmth.
Nan Cheng approached with a gentle smile. Though she looked calm, the slight mist in her eyes betrayed how much she had longed for his return. "You're finally back."
Lan Xiao met her gaze, his tired expression softening. "Yeah. I'm home."
Xuanyu, who had remained seated, finally stood up and walked over. His golden eyes studied his father carefully, noting the exhaustion in his features. "Welcome back, Dad."
Lan Xiao smiled, reaching out to ruffle his son's hair. "Thanks, Xuanyu. Have you been taking care of your mother and sister while I was away? Huh? Did you get taller?"
Xuanyu smirked. "Of course. Though Xu'er still runs around and eats candies too much."
"Hey!" Xu'er pouted, puffing her cheeks in protest. "I do not!"
Lan Xiao chuckled. "Looks like things are as lively as ever."
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The aroma of freshly cooked dishes filled the cozy dining room, the sound of chopsticks clinking against plates mingling with the occasional chatter. The Lan family sat around the table, enjoying a well-earned meal together.
Nan Cheng served another portion of vegetables onto Xuanyu's plate before smiling at her husband. "You must be starving, Lan Xiao. It's been a long mission, hasn't it?"
Lan Xiao, who had just stuffed a mouthful of food into his mouth, nodded enthusiastically. After chewing and swallowing, he let out a satisfied sigh. "You have no idea. Eating rations on a spaceship for weeks doesn't compare to a home-cooked meal. This… this is heaven."
Xu'er, their four-year-old daughter, giggled as she clumsily picked up a dumpling with her chopsticks, her tiny hands struggling to keep a firm grip. "Daddy, you eat too much!" she said with a playful pout before finally managing to lift the dumpling to her mouth.
Lan Xiao chuckled and ruffled her soft hair. "I have to, Xu'er! I need to make up for all the food I missed while I was away." He then turned to his wife. "But seriously, Nan Cheng, this meal is amazing."
Nan Cheng smiled at the praise. "I'm glad you think so. But there's something even more important I want to tell you."
Lan Xiao paused mid-bite, his curiosity piqued. "Oh? What is it?"
Nan Cheng took a deep breath, then smiled brightly. "I had a breakthrough. I only need a Spirit Soul now, and I'll be a Spirit Sage."
Lan Xiao's chopsticks nearly slipped from his fingers. His eyes widened in astonishment. "Wait, what?! Already?"
Nan Cheng nodded, looking pleased with herself. "Yes. My cultivation has been advancing much faster than expected."
Lan Xiao set down his chopsticks, still processing the information. "That's incredible! But… how? I mean, don't get me wrong, I always knew you were talented, but a breakthrough this early… Previously you told me that it would take you atleast 2-3 years to breakthrough." His brow furrowed as he thought about it.
Nan Cheng's expression became more serious. She glanced at Xuanyu, who had been quietly eating his meal, before she spoke. "Well… there's something else I need to tell you."
Lan Xiao's eyes sharpened as he picked up on her tone. "Go on."
Nan Cheng hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Xuanyu went missing for a week."
Lan Xiao's entire body tensed. "What?!" His voice rose slightly, filled with alarm. "When did this happen? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Xuanyu glanced up, his eyes calm as he continued eating. "Don't worry Dad, I didn't get kidnapped or anything, just got trapped in my own world." he stated simply.
Lan Xiao blinked, momentarily thrown off by the casual way Xuanyu said it. His mind raced, processing the words. "Your own… world?" he repeated slowly. His gaze flickered to Nan Cheng for confirmation, but she simply nodded, watching her husband carefully.
"Yes," she said softly. "Xuanyu… he has his own world now."
Silence fell over the table. The only sounds were the distant chirping of birds outside and the soft clink of Xu'er's chopsticks against her bowl.
Lan Xiao exhaled, leaning back slightly. His mind, trained to analyze scientific discoveries and the unknown, struggled to grasp what he had just heard. "Alright," he finally said, his voice steady despite his clear disbelief. "Explain. From the beginning."
Nan Cheng set her chopsticks down and folded her hands on the table. "About a month ago, Xuanyu vanished. One moment, he was in his room, and the next, he was just… gone. No trace, no clues, nothing. I searched everywhere, but there was no sign of him." She hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly. "I panicked. I even considered reporting it to the authorities, but teacher Nana assured me that Xuanyu is safe."
Lan Xiao's brows furrowed. "And you're only telling me this now?" His voice wasn't angry, but there was a weight to it—a father's worry.
"I didn't want to alarm you while you were on your mission," Nan Cheng admitted. "And… at the time, I wasn't sure how to explain it myself."
Xuanyu, who had been quietly eating, finally spoke. "I was in my world trapped due to its evolution," he said matter-of-factly.
Lan Xiao turned to him. "And what exactly does that mean?"
The young boy took his time chewing before answering. "It means exactly what it sounds like. I have my own world, separate from this one. Suddenly one day an energy tide appeared which is the reasion I was unable to come outside."
Lan Xiao stared at him. He had heard strange things in his line of work—mysterious planetary phenomena, unexplained energy fluctuations—but nothing like this. "And this world of yours… it's real?"
Xuanyu nodded. "More real than anything. It's alive."
Nan Cheng placed a hand over her chest. "I know it sounds unbelievable, but I've been there too."
Xu'er gasped loudly, her little hands waving excitedly. "Me, me! I go to big brother's world every day!" she babbled, her words tumbling over each other in her excitement. "There's a really, really, really huge tree! It's soooo big, bigger than our whole house! And now it shines with super-duper pretty colors! Like, whoosh! Sparkle! And guess what? There are fairies! Real fairies!"
She clapped her hands together, her tiny legs swinging beneath the table. "They're so, so, so cute! Not like stinky big brother, who's always busy with—um… whatever he does!" She puffed her cheeks, then gasped again as if remembering something even more exciting. "Oh! Oh! And there's a space fairy!" She threw her arms wide. "She makes stars! Like, twinkle-twinkle little stars, but they're right in front of you! And sometimes she makes these shiny, wobbly doors, and if you walk through them, you go whoosh and suddenly you're somewhere else!" She giggled, kicking her feet. "I did it once, and I was on the other side of the big tree in just one step! Mama, isn't that amazing?"
She barely stopped for a breath before continuing. "And the water and ice fairy is soooo pretty! She makes water go floaty-floaty in the air, and sometimes it turns into snowflakes and lands on my nose!" She scrunched her nose as if she could still feel the cold. "And, and—she made ice statues! Of me, and big brother, and Mama! They were so sparkly and shiny, like the ones we saw in that winter festival!" She threw her arms up dramatically. "They looked just like us! Well, mine was the cutest, of course!"
Xu'er giggled, clearly delighted by her own words. Then she turned to her father, her eyes wide and pleading. "Papa, you have to come see it! You just have to!"
Lan Xiao blinked, taking in everything she had just said. His scientist's mind struggled to keep up with her rapid-fire explanation, but one thing was clear—this was far beyond anything he had ever imagined. Slowly, he turned to Nan Cheng and Xuanyu, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "So… this world of yours really has elemental fairies?"
Nan Cheng nodded, her eyes soft with emotion. "Yes. And it's more alive than anything we've ever seen."
Xuanyu simply met his father's gaze and nodded. "It's real, Dad."
Lan Xiao exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. "This… this changes everything."