As Taio leaned back, he asked, "Your Majesty, where is Fang?"
Syaoran sighed. "She's with my mother. I wanted to cook something for them both."
Taio nodded, while the grandfather stroked his beard and said thoughtfully, "Hmm… From now on, our clan is blessed. We're about to witness a goddess's marriage." He laughed heartily and walked toward his room, leaving the two men behind.
Taio and Syaoran looked at each other in confusion.
"What does he mean by that?" Taio asked.
Syaoran, already guessing the implication, muttered inwardly, Is my grandfather secretly a god too? How does he say things like this with such confidence? He watched the old man disappear into the hall, both amused and suspicious.
After they finished preparing dinner, the two of them went to the Queen's room. Taio knocked lightly and called, "My Queen, dinner is ready."
The Queen turned and smiled. "Come in."
Fang, hearing Taio's voice, lit up with happiness. As they entered and set the food down, Taio walked directly to her with a broad grin.
Fang stood up, teasing, "Taio… you haven't changed one bit."
Taio smirked. "Neither have you, Fang~" He moved in for a hug, and just as Fang opened her arms—
Syaoran dashed between them and blocked Taio with a serious face.
Taio didn't hesitate. He simply hugged Syaoran instead and said dramatically, "I missed you, Fang. We meet again."
Fang burst into laughter.
Syaoran scowled. "Taio! How many times are you going to say you missed me? If you miss me that badly, just write it down a thousand times and hand it over."
Taio blinked, confused, then looked down—only to realize he had, indeed, been hugging Syaoran. He pouted. "Your Majesty… I only wanted to hug her. Why are you being so jealous, huh?"
Syaoran coughed to hide his awkwardness. "If you have to hug someone, hug me. I won't let anyone touch her."
The Queen elbowed Fang and smiled knowingly. Fang shook her head in disbelief, laughing.
Fang gave Syaoran a light slap and told Taio, "Ignore him. He's just clingy now."
Taio elbowed Syaoran back. Syaoran flashed a weak smile and quickly said, "Mother, we made dinner—let's eat," and rushed to the table like a guilty puppy.
The Queen folded her arms and sighed with a smile. "He's glowing like a boy in love." She followed with a chuckle.
As they all sat to eat, Taio turned to Fang. "So… when did you first meet His Majesty?"
Fang paused, glancing at Syaoran, who was quietly chewing his food.
"Oh, that…" she smirked. "When I descended to Earth, I saw him sitting on the edge of a mountain, staring at the moon. His white hair… outshined the moon's brightness, Taio."
Syaoran choked on his food and stared at her in disbelief.
Fang, Taio, and the Queen burst into laughter.
The Queen teased, "Syaoran's become an old man now. Only his face is saving him."
Fang nodded in agreement while Taio clutched his stomach, laughing uncontrollably.
Syaoran narrowed his eyes at Fang. She stuck her tongue out playfully.
When he saw Taio laughing too, he pinched his thigh under the table.
Taio groaned in pain. "Ow!"
The Queen watched the joyful scene quietly, her heart finally at peace. The missing piece that had left her feeling soulless was now restored.
She looked at Fang with soft, motherly eyes and thought, Even though you are a goddess… to me, you'll always be the girl I once cared for. My daughter, not just by fate, but by love.
And she smiled—gently, gratefully—as the family laughed and dined together at last.