Volume One Chapter One It’s Time to Wake from This Dream

Haishi, Qin Family

Outside the window, snowflakes fluttered gently, while inside, the warm room was filled with the scattered palm grass laid across the living room table. Lin Qiao knelt on the floor, her nimble hands moving swiftly, and soon the form of a palm-woven little dinosaur began to emerge.

After a long while, Lin Qiao set down the completed dinosaur, stretched her stiff neck, and carefully placed the toy into a gift box.

Tomorrow would be her son Qin Yi's fourth birthday.

Each year, crafting a palm-woven animal as a birthday gift for her son had become a tradition and a promise between Lin Qiao and her child.

Qin Yi was the child Lin Qiao had managed to keep after spending half a year bedridden, fighting desperately to protect her pregnancy.

He was born prematurely, only eight months into gestation. When he first arrived in the world, he was so fragile, like a kitten, and his tiny chest barely moved with each breath.

This child was the one Lin Qiao had sacrificed everything for, nearly losing her life to bring him into the world.

The day each year that marked his safe arrival meant everything to her.

The night grew late, and Qin Tianlang had not yet returned. Lin Qiao tidied up the table, then leaned against the sofa, quietly waiting.

Waiting had become her greatest skill these past few years.

The sound of the door opening echoed from the hallway, and a tall figure bent to change his shoes.

Lin Qiao approached, only when she drew near did she catch the cloying scent of perfume on her husband.

Before she could react, Qin Tianlang loosened his tie and asked impatiently, "What are you waiting here for?"

Lin Qiao gathered herself. "Tomorrow is Xiao Yi's birthday. I wanted to discuss with you how we should celebrate."

Qin Tianlang's handsome face remained indifferent. "There's no need. The Qin family has already made arrangements."

Lin Qiao was stunned.

"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"

He gripped her chin, his gaze filled with contempt. "Lin Qiao, who do you think you are? After nesting here for so long, you really believe you're the mistress of this house?"

Forced to look up, Lin Qiao caught sight of her son's toys in the living room, and fell silent.

She had grown up without parents, a child of the orphanage, craving a blood-related family more than anyone.

Her child was her only solace in this household.

As for Qin Tianlang's coldness and harsh words, she had long grown used to them and no longer felt hurt.

Seeing her silence, Qin Tianlang released her and turned toward the bedroom.

Perhaps tonight, he had lingered too long with the owner of that perfume.

Even after he left the living room, the scent lingered in the air.

Lin Qiao inhaled, and belatedly recalled who the perfume belonged to.

So Xu Mingyue had returned.

......

Early the next morning, Lin Qiao entered her son's room. Qin Yi was already dressed.

He wore a smart little suit, looking especially handsome and adorable.

Qin Yi glanced at his mother's usual attire and wrinkled his nose in disdain.

"Mom, you're not pretty at all. It's my birthday party today, so you can't come."

Lin Qiao was taken aback, a wave of disappointment crashing over her.

She had only learned about the party last night, leaving no time to prepare a proper dress.

Since marrying Qin Tianlang, he seldom took her to events; her days were spent caring for husband and son.

Lin Qiao persisted, seeking her son's confirmation. "You don't want Mom at your birthday party?"

"No, no! Mom can't come!"

After all, the birthday child had the final say, and Lin Qiao could not bear to make him unhappy on his special day.

She quickly composed herself, helped her son straighten his clothes, and led him to the living room.

"Dad, Mom will stay home today. Please take me."

Qin Tianlang stood at the center of the living room in a perfectly tailored suit.

He heard his son's words and did not object, instead stooping to pick up Qin Yi.

"We'll be off, then."

"Alright."

Lin Qiao forced a smile and bade them farewell.

After seeing them off downstairs, she watched as the black sedan drove away.

She could no longer recall when Qin Yi stopped being the child who nestled in her arms, pleading and fussing for his mother.

He had grown more and more like Qin Tianlang, his little face cold and stern, mirroring his father's expression.

He often frowned and told her, "I don't want Mom," "Mom, go away."

Lin Qiao returned home, sat on the sofa, lost in thought, when her gaze fell upon the black gift box on the coffee table.

Only then did she remember the birthday present she had stayed up late to prepare, which she had not yet given to Qin Yi.

She called her husband and learned that the child would be spending the night at the Qin residence, so she resolved to go there herself.

She wanted to hand the gift to her son personally, on his birthday.

Lin Qiao took a taxi to the villa district where the Qin residence was located.

Upon arrival, the gates stood open.

On the lawn, guests dressed to perfection mingled with children darting about.

Qin Yi was playing with a girl in a pink princess dress.

Lin Qiao called to her son, and Qin Yi ran over, pulling her into a corner, his little face flushed with anger.

"Mom, you broke your promise!"

Lin Qiao knelt before him and apologized, "I just wanted to bring you your birthday gift."

She solemnly handed him the gift box.

"Happy birthday, my precious."

"Qin Yi, it's time to cut the cake!"

The girl in the princess dress called out to him from afar, running over.

Qin Yi quickly shoved the gift box into his pocket, afraid anyone would see.

Before the girl reached them, he grabbed her hand and hurried toward the banquet hall.

The wind carried snippets of their childish conversation.

"Who is that lady?"

"She's... our housekeeper."

Lin Qiao could not believe her ears and hurried after them.

Before entering, Qin Yi opened the box, saw yet another palm-woven animal.

Every year, Mom's gift was always so unimaginative!

With disgust and disdain, he tossed the box heavily into the trash.

Lin Qiao followed, watching her carefully prepared gift discarded, left amidst the filthy rubbish.

Inside, the birthday song began to play. Through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, Lin Qiao saw a woman in a black dress affectionately holding Qin Yi's hand.

She smiled, lifted the cake, and crouched before him to let him blow out the candles.

That was Xu Mingyue, Qin Tianlang's unattainable love for many years.

Five years ago, Xu Mingyue had pursued her dreams, traveling abroad to attend the world's most prestigious photography academy.

She had rejected Qin Tianlang's meticulously planned proposal at his engagement banquet.

Their marriage was nothing more than the aftermath of a drunken mistake.

Lin Qiao had conceived the child as a result; Qin Tianlang, though he did not love her, took responsibility and married her.

Inside, Qin Yi pursed his lips, blew out the candles, and immediately hugged Xu Mingyue.

He showered her face with kisses.

"Aunt Moon, you're so beautiful, just like a fairy! I like you best!"

The guests laughed at the child's innocent words.

His favorite person was Xu Mingyue.

Lin Qiao felt as if all the strength had been drained from her, her fingers trembling, reaching for something she could never grasp.

This was the child she had risked everything to bring into the world.

The older he grew, the more distant he became.

Lin Qiao had always assumed it was simply his nature.

But she had never imagined that her husband's long-admired beloved could so easily win her son's heart.

"Birthday boy, come take a picture!"

Lin Qiao's mother-in-law, Cheng Ru, deliberately teased Qin Yi, "Xiao Yi likes Aunt Moon best, what about Daddy?"

Cheng Ru had never liked Lin Qiao, and would never mention his mother.

Qin Yi, thoroughly enchanted by his soft, fragrant Aunt Moon, answered without hesitation.

"I like Aunt Moon best in the whole world, Daddy is second!"

Cheng Ru stroked his cheek. "Then Xiao Yi should take a photo with Aunt Moon, his favorite."

"No! I want Aunt Moon and Daddy to take a photo with me!"

As he spoke, Qin Yi took Xu Mingyue's hand, then extended the other, gesturing for his father to hold it.

Xu Mingyue looked up at Qin Tianlang, trying to decline, "Tianlang, this isn't appropriate."

But the usually aloof man gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"It's the child's birthday. Since Xiao Yi likes you, there's nothing inappropriate."

The three stood hand in hand before the cake, posing for a family portrait.

At Lin Qiao's son's birthday banquet, Lin Qiao was not invited.

Her gift lay in the trash, her son's affections ranked.

A birthday party, a family portrait—without her.

Each event, each slight, reminded Lin Qiao that all these years, she had misplaced her devotion.

The cold wind outside chilled her to the bone.

Her tears spilled uncontrollably, her heart clenched by an invisible hand, shattering into countless fragments.

She gazed at the trio inside, who seemed the very image of a true family.

Lin Qiao had struggled alone for so long, given so much.

Yet some people, with a single appearance, made her years of persistence look foolish and pitiable.

In that moment, she realized with piercing clarity that the home she had chosen, where she had willingly broken her wings and given up her dreams, was nothing more than an illusion she had woven for herself.

This dream had lasted long enough—it was time to wake.

Lin Qiao pulled out her phone and sent a message to Qin Tianlang.

[Let's get a divorce.]

She put away her phone and turned decisively.

Returning home, she packed her belongings, took her suitcase, and left without looking back.