Transmigration; Married to My Ex-Fiancé's Uncle-Chapter 379; Reclaiming 4

She paused in the grand foyer, her gaze sweeping across expensive furnishings that had never felt right, that had always carried the wrongness of imposed occupation. "This is my mother’s house. My family’s estate. I’m taking it back completely, room by room, until there’s no trace left of their pretend ownership."

Lu Yuze studied her for a long moment, reading determination in every line of her mud-streaked face. "That’s a massive undertaking. It’ll require significant resources, time, coordination...."

"I know," she interrupted. "That’s why I’m asking for your help. I can’t do this alone. I need your connections, your resources, your ability to make things happen quickly." Her jade eyes met his directly. "Will you help me reclaim my home?"

His answer came without hesitation. "Yes. Whatever you need. However long it takes." If his girl needed it then who was he to decline that?

Relief and gratitude washed over her features. "Thank you."

She turned to address the household staff who had gathered curiously in the foyer, drawn by the unusual sight of their mistress returning covered in mud and water. "I want every room in this mansion catalogued," she announced, her voice carrying authority that brooked no argument. "Every piece of furniture, every decoration, every item that was added or changed. I want complete inventories made immediately."

The head butler, a man who had served the household for decades, stepped forward. "Miss, that will take considerable time. The mansion has over fifty rooms....."

"Then start now and work continuously until it’s done," Shuyin said firmly. "Hire additional staff if necessary. Pay overtime. Whatever it requires. I want those inventories completed within three days."

She continued issuing instructions with rapid precision, her strategic mind organizing the monumental task into manageable components. "Contact furniture dealers and interior designers. I want proposals for replacement furnishings that match the original aesthetic of this estate, traditional, refined, reflecting our family’s heritage rather than imported modern trends. Schedule appointments for this week."

The staff scrambled to take notes, some pulling out phones to record her rapid-fire commands.

"And I want contractors assessed for potential renovations. Nothing structural yet, but I may want walls repainted, flooring replaced in certain rooms, and lighting fixtures updated. Get estimates." She paused, considering. "Actually, contact historical preservation societies. See if they have records or photographs of how this estate originally looked when it was first built. I want accuracy, not guesswork."

Lu Yuze watched this transformation with something like admiration. This was Shuyin in her element, strategic, organized, commanding. The muddy, laughing woman from the garden had shifted seamlessly into the calculated leader planning systematic reconstruction.

"One more thing," Shuyin added, her tone softening slightly. "The children’s comfort is a priority. Whatever changes happen, Yuyan and Chen Xiao’s spaces remain stable and secure. They get veto power over anything that affects their rooms. Understood?"

Nods rippled through the gathered staff.

"Good. Begin immediately." She dismissed the gathered staff with a decisive gesture, watching as they dispersed throughout the mansion to begin the enormous task she’d just assigned.

Once the foyer had cleared, leaving only Lu Yuze, the children, and a few lingering servants maintaining a discreet distance, Shuyin finally acknowledged her own exhaustion. The morning had stretched past noon, it was already past one in the afternoon, and none of them had properly rested since the chaos began at breakfast. "Now," she said, her voice carrying a hint of the tiredness she’d been suppressing, "we all need proper showers and clean clothes before we do anything else."

They made their way through familiar corridors toward the west wing where their shared room was located. The mansion felt subtly different now, less oppressive somehow, as if Shuyin’s declaration of reclamation had already begun shifting the atmosphere.

"Yuyan, Chen Xiao," Shuyin said as they entered the large bedroom with its two beds, one for the children, one for her and Lu Yuze. "You two shower first. Take your time, use hot water, and get completely clean. I’ll make sure fresh clothes are laid out for you."

"Okay, Mama," they chorused, already heading toward the bathroom with visible relief at the promise of hot water and cleanliness.

The moment the bathroom door closed and water began running, Shuyin moved to the windows. The heavy curtains had been drawn closed all morning, keeping the room dim and private. She pulled them open now, letting afternoon sunlight pour in and illuminate the space. The brightness felt appropriate somehow, symbolic of the changes she was making, bringing light into spaces that had been kept deliberately dark.

After securing the curtains, she walked to the wardrobe and began selecting indoor clothes for the children. Comfortable things, soft pants, and loose shirts that wouldn’t irritate skin rubbed raw by mud and outdoor washing. She laid the garments out carefully on the children’s bed.

As she straightened from arranging the clothes, arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Lu Yuze pulled her back against his chest, his embrace firm but careful. "Feeling better?" he asked quietly, his lips finding the curve of her neck and pressing a kiss there.

"I haven’t showered properly yet!" Shuyin protested, though she didn’t put much effort into escaping his hold. "I’m still covered in dried mud and sweat."

"You took a shower downstairs," he countered, amusement clear in his voice. "You were playing with mud and water, not rolling in actual filth." His lips traced a deliberate path from her neck to her shoulder, punctuating his words with slow, teasing kisses. "You’re perfectly fine."

"Lu Yuze....." She made a half-hearted attempt to step forward, but his arms tightened, keeping her in place. There was something comforting about being held like this, about someone offering affection without demanding anything in return after a morning spent being strong for everyone else.

He continued his gentle assault on her neck and shoulders, each kiss carrying affection and desire in equal measure. His hands settled at her waist, thumbs tracing idle patterns through the fabric of her shirt.