Chapter 79: The Southern Sky's Star

Tao Sisi exhaled with a hiss from the spicy broth, eating as she spoke: “The hotpot is more important—what tricks are you talking about?”
Everyone else, however, looked over. Tao Ming said, “Just a moment,” and took Nuonuo into Turning Stars and Changing Skies, where she helped her take human form, dressed her properly, and tidied her hair before bringing her out.
When they emerged, everyone was engrossed in their food, paying them no mind. Tao Ming, helpless, had to raise her voice: “The trick is done!”
People glanced up. Seeing her cradling Softsoft, they noted nothing unusual. What kind of trick was this?
But on closer inspection—how could there be two Softsofts?
Without waiting for questions, Tao Ming announced, “This is the holy beast, White Tiger.”
Everyone was taken aback, then offered congratulations: “Well done! As expected of a divine beast, able to take human form at such a young age.”
And they immediately returned to their meal.
Tao Ming could only sigh.
Qin Youchuan called out, “Come eat, come eat.”
Tao Ming set Nuonuo and Softsoft on one chair, then signaled with her eyes for Su Nanxing to take the remaining seat.
Su Nanxing placed the two little ones between himself and Tao Ming, busying himself snatching morsels of meat for the trio.
Several times, Tao Sisi reached into the pot for meat, only to have Su Nanxing beat her to it. She grumbled, “Do you still want to call me Mother or not?”
Su Nanxing quickly set down his chopsticks. “I do.”
Tao Sisi looked at Tao Ming and asked, “Mingming, how does he treat you?”
Su Nanxing’s heart leapt into his throat.
Tao Ming countered, “Mother, how does Father treat you?”
Tao Sisi glanced at Qin Siyu. “He’s as obedient as one could hope.”
“Su Nanxing treats me even better than that.”
Tao Sisi’s refined brows knit. “Obedience is already the utmost—how could there be better?”
The room fell silent.
Tao Ming gazed gently at Su Nanxing, speaking softly: “He loves me, respects me, and is willing to tolerate and accommodate me. Whenever I act rashly, he supports and encourages me unconditionally, helping me plot and plan. But when I am foolish or make mistakes, he will criticize me and help me correct myself. That is even better than obedience.”
Su Nanxing was deeply moved. He looked at Tao Ming as if he wished to enfold her into himself, and said tenderly, “Wife…”
Tao Ming beamed at him, then turned back. “So, Mother, whether you approve or not, I am spending my life with him.”

At the next table, someone complained, “You two are being far too mushy!”
Tao Ming turned to see her sixth uncle, Qin Si’ang’s son, Qin Yunjue, with a woman at his side, covering her mouth as she laughed.
Tao Ming lifted her chin slightly, challenging, “Second cousin, you can be mushy for us if you dare!”
Qin Yunjue glanced at the woman. “We’re an old married couple—what’s the point?”
The woman uncovered her face, revealing a charming visage, and smiled at Tao Ming. “Don’t be fooled by his stern looks—when it comes to sweet words, he’s even mushier than you.”
Qin Yunjue flushed crimson and muttered, “Beloved, I only say such things for your ears.”
Everyone in the room—including Qin Youchuan—began to cheer: “We want to hear, too!”
Tao Ming looked at the lively room, and in a low voice asked Qin Siyu, “Father, has the Qin family always been like this?”
Qin Siyu nodded, laughing.
Tao Ming found it odd. For a powerful family like the Qin clan, who wielded influence throughout Weishui, shouldn’t they be more calculating? Not a single one of them seemed that way!
Sensing her confusion, Qin Youchuan explained, “Mingming, remember—the reason the Qin family has thrived for generations and never fallen is…”
He paused, turning to Tao Sisi. “Sisi, what was that word you used last time?”
“Unity.”
Qin Youchuan faced Tao Ming again. “Yes—unity!”
Tao Sisi winked playfully at Tao Ming. “The Qin family even learned the common tongue from me!”
Tao Ming was astonished. “Why?”
“When Siyu and I first returned to the Qin manor, the old master was furious that I’d left you in another world and hadn’t brought you back. He insisted the entire Qin family learn the common tongue from me, planning to send someone to fetch you.”
“But before they could, you returned.”
Tao Sisi glanced at Su Nanxing, her expression mixed with doubt and curiosity. “Young Su, how did you travel to another world?”
Su Nanxing recounted how he’d overheard Qin Siyu, stolen the sunglasses, and crossed over to Earth.
Qin Youchuan snorted. “The Su family has always been secretive.”
Su Nanxing opened his mouth, but found no rebuttal. The Su family and the Qin family were worlds apart; apart from that blockhead Nineteen, the rest were cautious to a fault—always hiding their intentions, never straightforward.
Perhaps it was because the Su family was forever mired in infighting and lacked unity.
Tao Sisi smoothed things over. “Tell me about your family. If Mingming marries in, will she be bullied?”

Su Nanxing straightened and described the Su family’s situation, finally assuring her, “If Mingming doesn’t want to live at the Su manor, I can move to the Qin manor instead.”
Tao Sisi’s eyes grew more inquisitive. She asked, “Those brothers you mentioned—why is your name so different from theirs?”
Tao Ming’s ears perked up. She wanted to know as well!
Before Su Nanxing could reply, several people in the room called out, “I know! I know!”
Tao Sisi looked at them in surprise. “How do you all know?”
Qin Youchuan looked at Su Nanxing with a mysterious expression. “His birth caused quite a stir!”
“Anyone in the capital who was older than him probably still remembers that night.”
Tao Ming’s curiosity was piqued.
Qin Youchuan’s face took on a nostalgic look. “Almost two thousand years ago, I wasn’t yet the head of the family and didn’t have to worry about household affairs. I often roamed about with my third and sixth brothers.”
“I remember that night well—the moon was bright and stars sparse. The three of us were wandering the streets when we saw a star in the southern sky growing ever brighter, drawing closer, until it streaked above our heads and fell toward Dong’an Lane.”
“Of course, we had to investigate such a spectacle. We raced after the star, watching as it hovered above the Su manor.”
“At the time, the Qin and Su families were already at odds. We climbed the back wall and sneaked into a courtyard, keeping our eyes on the spot where the star had stopped.”
“The courtyard was ablaze with light, maids bustling about, and from inside, we could just make out the agonized cries of a woman in labor.”
“We thought someone might be dying, so we crept closer. We saw Su Yanfeng pacing outside a room, while the woman’s cries continued.”
“Just as we thought she might not survive, the star hovering above the Su manor pierced through the roof and entered the room, filling it with radiant light.”
“Then we heard someone inside exclaim, ‘She’s delivered!’ followed by the wailing of a newborn. Soon after, someone came out, carrying a swaddled infant to show Su Yanfeng, joyfully announcing it was a boy.”
“That night, many in the capital witnessed the strange phenomenon in the sky. Some in the Su manor also saw the star enter the house and claimed the boy was a heaven-sent bringer of fortune.”
“So the head of the Su family named the boy Su Nanxing—Southern Star.”
Tao Ming stared at Su Nanxing in awe, unable to recover for a long while. Such a fantastical scene belonged in legends, yet it had happened to someone so close to her—it was almost unbelievable.
Tao Sisi exclaimed excitedly, “Good son-in-law! From now on, you can call me Mother!”