Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu-Chapter 1134: The daughter there is and the one that isn’t

The dawn of the wedding day was finally here.

On the bride’s side was the time to perform the hair dressing ritual where Alix would be bathed in water infused with pomelo to ward off any evil influences. Ren Cuifen and Mui helped her with the bath while Leina, Xing Bi - and this time, Guiying made preparations for the actual dressing up part.

When Alix stepped out, a gentle incense fragrance that burned sandalwood reached her nostrils. The room was quiet, softly lit up in the soft amber glow of lamps. A tray of ceremonial items rested neatly on a low table which the three had prepared - a red comb, a pair of candles, cypress leaves, lotus seeds, and longan fruits.

Alix sat before the dressing table lit up with a pair of dragon-and-phoenix candles in a crimson satin robe. Her black hair freshly washed with sweet-scented water hung slightly below the shoulders.

Leina smiled and handed her the red lacquered comb. "Here."

Ren Cuifen held it, eyes welled in tears of emotion and joy. She stood behind her, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her lips quivered. She knew the real soul of her daughter was long gone. Alix was here, yet she wasn’t.

"First comb, to comb from beginning to end, for a life of togetherness until old age."

She combed gently through Alix’s hair, fingers trembling ever so slightly. She had dreamt of this day, to make her daughters ready for their big wedding day. She was happy. She was very happy. Yet somewhere in her heart, she missed her daughter.

"Second comb, for harmony and happiness in the hundred years to come."

The second stroke was slower, a ceremonial movement that spanned across memories. From pigtails and scraped knees to the woman now preparing to marry. A melancholy filled her chest, knowing that the daughter who was no more with her wasn’t fortunate to live a blissful married life.

"Third comb, for a house full of children and generations to follow."

Ren Cuifen was blinking back with tears. She felt conflicted for the first time. She adored the soul residing within Alix’s body. She thanked the Gods for showing mercy for not truly taking away Alix from them. Yet at the same time, she couldn’t help but think how the real Alix missed the good future she deserved to live.

The final combing ended and she placed a small jade hairpin into her coiled hair. Tears plopped down her eyes and her quiet sobs echoed in the room.

Through the mirror, Alix was observing her the entire time. She knew what she was thinking.

Just like how she wondered what it would have felt like if Zhan Kai-Ming had been there to comb her hair, Ren Cuifen naturally felt the same way towards her daughter. Her real daughter. Though Alix was physically alive, it didn’t hurt less to feel that her real daughter wasn’t the one she was sending off to her bright future.

Ren Cuifen chuckled as she wiped her eyes. "I’m sorry. I know it’s a happy day, but you look so pretty."

Mui, who was blissfully unaware of the truth, said, "Aish, why be so emotional? Mom, you know you can meet sis anytime, right?"

A flicker of light passed in her eyes. "Meet anytime..."

No, I can’t. I can’t meet my lost daughter anymore...

Xing Bi and Leina, who were aware of it, remained silent. They understood the emotions behind her complicated gaze. Guiying, though assumed as a natural reaction of a mother.

Ren Cuifen smiled through her tears and softly smacked Mui. "Yes, I know we can meet anytime but she is still leaving the house, right? She won’t be here to live with us anymore. I don’t know who will keep you in check because I can’t."

"Hey! I’m responsible! You don’t have to keep a check on me!" She glared. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Ren Cuifen smiled. She had often wondered if they should tell the truth to Mui. But Alix was strongly against it.

Not because she was afraid of Mui’s rejection but because she knew that she wouldn’t be able to take it. She would curse and blame herself for the rest of her life for killing her sister. Though Mui had only wanted to help the real Alix out of desperation, that help had only led to her death. There was no way to take that guilt out of her heart no matter how hard they would try.

For Mui’s own sanity, it was necessary that some truths were better left buried in the dark. Yes, it was cruel. Everybody else knew about Alix’s identity, only she wouldn’t. But Alix had asked the parents a simple question.

’Do you want to lose your other daughter too by telling the truth?’

Ren Luoyang and Ren Cuifen had nothing to respond.

’She would never be the same. I’m alive, but I’m not real, and Mui is real, yet she won’t be alive.’

It struck their hearts so hard they broke down into tears. They couldn’t protect their elder daughter and swore they would do anything to protect Mui.

Leina cleared her throat. "We will bring the bridal dress now! Gosh, I’m so excited!" She eyed Xing Bi.

Xing Bi turned to Guiying and asked to be beside Alix till they returned. Ren Cuifen also dragged a lazy Mui away in the guise of helping with the preparations.

Left alone, Guiying took a seat beside her and watched her, beaming. "How are you feeling?"

Alix asked, "How was it for you?"

She placed her hand on her chest. "It was amazing. My heart was pounding the entire time. I remember I was shaking all over. The few minutes before leaving for the aisle were the most anxious."

"Who had walked you down the aisle?"

"Dad. Zixin’s father. It wasn’t a debatable question at all. He said in a heartbeat he would walk me down the aisle. He would also bully Zixin a bit before handing my hand in his."

"I see. It must have been the happiest day."

Guiying lowered her gaze, a small smile tracing her lips.

"Becoming Zixin’s wife was indeed a very happy day of my life. But it...could have been the happiest day if two more people would have been present. They would have felt so happy for me..."

She quickly wiped her eye and cleared her throat, embarrassed. "I’m so sorry. It’s your special day and I’m babbling things about mine, haha."

Alix watched her in silence.

Then she said, "I’m happy for you."

Guiying blinked twice. "Sorry?"

"I’m sorry I missed your big day but I’m glad you married Chen Zixin. What I don’t appreciate is you cleaning a dead woman’s office like an idiot. I was dead. You should have moved on."