Chapter 34

Chapter 34

When Wen Zhi disappeared years ago, the nearby lake was searched thoroughly, and her teachers and classmates were questioned, but no suspicious clues were found.

Even if Wen Zhi exposes something now, Wen Bingchun would at most be guilty of failing to help—morally wrong but not illegal.

The police could only summon Wen Bingchun for investigation regarding the current defamation and inciting cyberbullying.

Filming had to stop. That afternoon, Wen Bingchun left the program with Wen Xiaowen, catching the first flight back to Jiangcheng.

The production team announced the end of their collaboration with Wen Bingchun. Meanwhile, a backstage video from Lin Jiyao’s concert began circulating online. In the footage, Wen Bingchun and her assistant stood together, with the assistant secretly taking photos of Wen Zhi and Lin Jiyao from behind before quickly stashing her phone. The angle clearly matched the leaked photos from the earlier scandal.

Wen Bingchun’s denial of knowing Wen Zhi in front of Director Fang at the TV station, as well as her sneaky photo of Wen Zhi’s contract, were also exposed. Like a lit fuse, one explosive revelation followed another.

Netizens were stunned by her series of actions, bombarding the comments with hate.

“Damn, what a massive white lotus (*a term for hypocritical innocence*)! She’s been jealous of Wen Zhi from the start.”

“She’s probably been plotting against Wen Zhi since the show began, with no regard for family.”

“So Wen Bingchun has been causing drama for this long? Even dragging our Ji-ge (*affectionate term for Lin Jiyao*) into it? That’s too much.”

Soon, people claiming to be Wen Bingchun’s elementary and middle school classmates came forward with more revelations.

“Wen Zhi was really kind back in school—she often brought snacks to share with classmates and helped others. She wasn’t great at studying, but that doesn’t reflect her character.”

“Who hasn’t been late to school before? Wen Zhi was the school belle—when she was occasionally late, a crowd of guys would gather to watch. That old photo of her being late was probably taken by someone who liked her.”

“As for that photo with the troublemakers, they were asking her out, and she rejected them. Some guys even fought over her—it was a big scene.”

“Wen Bingchun wasn’t even called that back then—her name was Wen Zhaodi. She always followed Wen Zhi around. Though she was smart, she was introverted and antisocial, ignoring everyone. None of us liked hanging out with her.”

“Her parents were so sexist, naming her ‘Zhaodi’ (seeking a son). She’s both pitiful and hateful.”

VB blew up with hate, pushing Wen Bingchun straight to the top of the trending list.

Soon after, another hashtag—#‘Ice Beauty’s Top Fan’ Drops Her and Renames#—scraped onto the trending list.

This ‘Ice Beauty’s Top Fan’ had been Wen Bingchun’s most loyal supporter, stanning her hard since her debut. When Wen Bingchun clashed with Wen Zhi on the show, she dragged Wen Zhi into trending topics solo multiple times.

Even after Wen Bingchun’s mid-scandal, she remained steadfast in her defense.

This time, everyone expected her to stand by Wen Bingchun as usual, but within half a day, she dropped her.

Ice Beauty’s Top Fan: This is my last post under this name: @Wen Bingchun, I’ve liked you for five whole years, from high school to college. You used to be the warmth in my youth, but after being used repeatedly and seeing all these incidents, I’m utterly disappointed. From now on, we’re strangers.

After posting this, the round-faced girl broke down crying at her desk before decisively changing her VB username to ‘Blooming Gardenia.’

A flood of fans turned against Wen Bingchun, flooding her VB with tears and fury.

Soon, people noticed that ‘Ice Beauty’s Top Fan’ had changed her username.

Had she abandoned Wen Bingchun to support Wen Zhi instead?

The former leader of the anti-Wen Zhi brigade was now a Wen Zhi fan?

Talk about irony.

When Wen Bingchun saw this trending topic after landing, she hit an all-time low—it felt like she had lost someone who had once adored her unconditionally.

With such a major incident happening, Director Fang notified the guests and the kids to keep to the inn's activities, while the live stream only captured some daily routines.

When Wen Zhi appeared in the yard with Mu Mu, walking the dog and feeding the rabbits, Gardenia fans were heartbroken.

"Aww, our Sister Zhi has suffered so much."

"Sister Zhi is amazing! Someone like Wen Bingchun, that scheming white lotus, deserves to be exposed!"

"Looking at it this way, Wen Zhi is really kind. If it were me, I would’ve thrown hands in the first episode."

"Aww, from now on, may life be peaceful. Sister Zhi and Mu Mu, you got this!"

Wen Zhi’s VB followers blew up, nearly reaching ten million. Fans flooded her feed with encouraging messages. That night, after browsing through the supportive comments, Wen Zhi opened a live stream interaction channel on VB.

She started the stream suddenly, so not many people joined at first. Those who did were immediately struck by her stunning beauty up close. Unaware of the impact her face had, Wen Zhi leaned in and muttered, "Why is the screen so dark? Should I adjust the brightness? Do I need filters? Can everyone hear me?"

She fiddled with the settings for a while.

"I’m not really good at this. Should I wait for Mu Mu to come and help me start the stream?"

Seeing that she was about to close the stream, fans quickly sent messages to stop her.

"Aww, no! Sister Zhi, we can help you figure it out!"

"LMAO, is Sister Zhi makeup-free right now? Absolutely flawless! Her skin is perfect, I’m so jealous!"

"What a blessed day! I actually caught Sister Zhi’s live stream! Freaking out!"

"LMAO, I need to tell the whole world—our Sister Zhi is live! Come watch!!"

News of Wen Zhi’s first live stream spread rapidly online. Within minutes, the number of live stream viewers surged, even overloading the stream temporarily.

"Ahhhh, it’s real! My queen is live!"

"Hahaha, a once-in-a-lifetime moment—got my screenshot! I’m setting Sister Zhi’s beauty as my wallpaper to admire every day."

"Sister Zhi, look at me! Sending you rockets to express my deep love for you!"

Fans kept sending gifts, prompting Wen Zhi to say, "Cut it out with the gifts. I don’t need the money. Wait, how do I turn off the gifting function?" After some trial and error, she finally disabled the gifting option.

Then she cleared her throat, sat up straight, and got serious on camera.

"The purpose of today’s live stream is to address some of the recent online rumors about me. Due to certain uncontrollable circumstances, it’s true—I only made it to middle school, but education doesn’t define everything. Of course, I’m not encouraging anyone to skip studying—if I get the chance, I’ll continue my education. Back in school, I slacked off occasionally, was rebellious, and caused my parents headaches—but I’ve always been a law-abiding citizen."

The live stream viewers were amused by her words.

Wen Zhi continued, "Mu Mu and I were separated before, and by chance, Mu Mu was invited to join the show. I sponsored over two million just to participate, and looking back, it feels like a bit of a waste. Being on the show wasn’t just restrictive—it also cramped my spending style."

She listed her grievances one by one: "Couldn’t shop, couldn’t buy pretty clothes, couldn’t eat delicious food, couldn’t take Mu Mu to amusement parks. The only thing I could do was buy some collectibles online and donate to Hope Schools."

"LMAO, the audacity of this flex! I’m so envious."

"People chase fame for money and status, but someone as wealthy as Wen Zhi has no reason to bribe the show’s crew."

"Hahaha, our poor Sister Zhi doesn’t even have time to collect rent now—she has to hire someone to manage her apartments."

"But at least Mu Mu made some friends, so that’s a silver lining." She sighed, then noticed many comments mentioning Wen Bingchun and added, "I’m sorry you all had to see that drama, but from now on, please don’t poke the bear."

The more she asked them not to mention it, the more trolls insisted on bringing it up.

"Is the person you don't like referring to Wen Bingchun? Hahaha, poor thing—got mobbed at the airport and even got pelted with rotten eggs."

"Her agency already issued a statement dropping her and made her pay penalty fees."

"Seems like all the endorsements she had lined up fell through. She got summoned by the police too—her career's pretty much toast. Who would dare work with someone with such terrible character?"

Wen Zhi frowned and booted everyone talking about Wen Bingchun. Finally, no one dared bring her up again.

"Anyway. A lot of people are asking about Mu Mu’s father. Let me clarify again—Mu Mu doesn’t have a father. If anyone ever claims to be my husband in the future, you can just haul them to the cops."

"Who would dare impersonate him? That’d be like soliciting a minor!"

"Just beat the crap out of them, that works too."

"Sister Zhi, would you consider remarrying? I’d even be willing to be your live-in husband!"

Wen Zhi selectively answered: "Beating someone until they cough up blood isn’t impossible, but you might face legal consequences—better hire a good lawyer. Not considering remarriage. Why would I want another deadweight at home?"

"Sister Zhi, what skincare products do you use? Are you just born perfect like this?"

"How come Mu Mu’s not on cam?"

"Sister Zhi, what kind of men do you like? Would someone like me work? I’ll slide into your DMs with pics!"

"..."

Soon, she realized the more she answered, the questions just got wilder. She simply bid her fans goodnight, decisively ended the livestream, and even took the fan donations, adding some of her own money for giveaways.

After closing the livestream, she stretched and headed toward Liu Yiru’s room.

Just as she reached the door, she ran into Liu Yiru bringing up some fruit.

"What’s Mu Mu doing in there?"

Liu Yiru pointed toward the room. "The kids are video-calling Xiao Wen inside."

Wen Zhi entered and saw three munchkins huddled around a tablet, talking. On the screen, a pudgy kid was sulking, his voice muffled.

"Mom and Dad are fighting with Big Sis. Big Sis said she hates my guts and even despises me. Before, she always smiled when she talked to me and bought me things. Why does she hate me now?"

As he spoke, his big eyes got all watery, which soon spilled over. "Wuwuwu… just now… just now, Big Sis said… I’m not Mom’s son, that Dad had me with someone else. Big Sis… is that why she hates me?"

The three munchkins on the other side were stunned—this was way over their heads.

Xiao Wen didn’t seem to need comfort anyway, muttering to himself, "Did I steal Big Sis’s mom? Do Mom and Dad like me more? Is that why she hates me?"

"But… but last time I came back, I told Mom and Dad not to scold Big Sis… they wouldn’t listen. I even said I’d yank their oxygen tubes, and they still wouldn’t listen… wuwuwu…"

Xiao Xiao panicked and quickly comforted him, "Don’t cry, Xiao Wen gege! Get Ultraman to talk sense into them! If they won’t listen, have Ultraman scare them!"

Sen Sen added, "Maybe you should stop liking your Big Sis too?"

Mu Mu, holding Xiao Hei, asked seriously, "Then where’s your mom? Are you going to look for her? If you go, I’ll send Xiao Hei with you!"

At this, the little boy cried even harder, his chubby body trembling with sobs. "Wuwuwu… I don’t know…" His cries were mixed with the sounds of adults arguing, cursing, and things being thrown around.

Clearly, all hell was breaking loose in his home.

"Wuwuwu… am I… am I not allowed to play with you guys anymore…? I won’t compete with Mu Mu anymore, won’t hog Sen Sen’s toys, I’ll give all the snacks to Meimei… I just want to play with you… and be on the show together…" The little boy hiccuped between sobs.

Liu Yiru put down the fruit and quietly followed Wen Zhi outside. After closing the door, she whispered in surprise, "Isn't Wen Xiaowen your second aunt's son? Then why does she favor him so much?"

Wen Zhi shook her head. "I'm not sure about that either. The Wen family has always had few descendants. My grandfather’s generation only managed to have my father and second uncle, and my second uncle was a disappointment. Both my family and his had daughters. My mother's health wasn't good, so they decided to have only one child regardless of gender and love them equally. But my second uncle's family desperately wanted a son—they even named their daughter 'Zhaodi' and visited the Goddess of Fertility every year. Maybe it was bad karma, but for over a decade, nothing happened. When I came back, Wen Xiaowen was already five, just a few months older than Mu Mu. As for who his mother is, I don't know either."

After rambling on like that, Wen Zhi noticed Liu Yiru smiling at her.

Wen Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Liu Yiru chuckled. "Nothing, I just think you finally see me as a real friend and confidante."

Wen Zhi also smiled, her tone meaningful. "There was someone I once considered a sister and confidante, but she betrayed me and wanted me dead."

Liu Yiru asked, "Are you talking about Wen Bingchun?"

Wen Zhi shook her head. "No." That was back when I first entered the palace.

Liu Yiru let out a "Yikes, that’s harsh" and shrugged. "Oh, well, want me to bake you some teddy bear cookies tomorrow?"

Wen Zhi snorted with laughter.

They lingered by the door for a bit until the kids finished their video call. Wen Zhi then took Mu Mu back home.

After returning, Mu Mu seemed a little down. Wen Zhi deliberately teased him, "No studying together tonight?"

Mu Mu shook his head. "Nah. Xiao Xiao and Sen Sen are both really upset."

Wen Zhi said, "Oh," then asked, "What about you, Mu Mu? Are you upset too?"

Mu Mu nodded. "A little. Even though Uncle Xiao Wen always likes to argue with me, he's not a bad person at heart. He doesn’t sneakily hide my books, push me into the river on purpose, or slip laxatives into my food."

"When he left, he even gave me an Ultraman."

Just as Wen Zhi reached out to pat her son's head, he added, "I didn’t have anything good to give him, so I gave him the programming books from my locked box."

Wen Zhi was speechless.

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Mu Mu hugged Little Black and stayed silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Mom, will Uncle Xiao Wen never be able to come back to the show again? A lot of people online hate his sister—will they hate him too?" His dark eyes were full of worry.

Wen Zhi stroked his head and countered, "Do you hate him?"

Mu Mu shook his head. "No. His sister’s actions don’t define him. Even though he wasn’t great before, he listens to advice and has improved a lot."

"Then that’s what counts. If you don’t hate him, others won’t either." In truth, that wasn’t entirely the case—she had seen people attacking Wen Xiaowen during her livestream.

She had immediately banned and kicked them out.

Mu Mu finally relaxed and took Little Black for a bath. After the little one was done, Wen Zhi carried him to bed, dried his hair, and began telling him a story.

For once, she didn’t doze off first. After tucking Mu Mu in, she was about to sleep when her phone on the bedside table suddenly vibrated.

It was Wen Bingchun calling. She blocked her without a second thought.

A second later, it rang again—relentlessly.

Wen Zhi got out of bed with the phone. Little Black, curled up by the bed, peeked up at her before resuming his watch over his little master.

She walked to the window and answered coldly, "What the hell do you want now?"

The voice on the phone sobbed with a trembling, desperate tone: "Xiao Zhi... Xiao Zhi, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, really sorry... You're my only hope now. Please, I beg you, help me."

"I... I've lost everything. The company dropped me, my parents said they won’t claim me as their daughter, and everyone’s tearing into me."

Wen Zhi gazed at the dark night outside the window and asked calmly, "What do you want me to do?"

The other end seemed to grasp at hope and said urgently, "It's easy. Just put out a post on Weibo saying the police have confirmed it had nothing to do with me, that it was all my assistant acting on her own, and that you misunderstood me."

Nice try.

Wen Zhi let out a cold laugh. "So I should slap my own face? Use my credibility to clear your name?"

The other end was silenced for a moment before asking, "Are you still mad about that time? I really didn’t deliberately lead you to the pond. I didn’t know you’d fall in. I freaked out and didn’t grab you. By the time I came to my senses, you were already underwater." At the time, a whirlpool suddenly appeared on the lake, terrifying her. She called for a teacher afterward, but no one could be found.

"If you don’t help me, I’ll have no way out. After everything we’ve shared as sisters, you wouldn’t really watch me die, would you?"

"You won’t die. At most, you’ll be humiliated and forced out of the business. If you behave, you can still live a normal life running a dessert shop." Still thinking you can get off scot-free?

Wen Bingchun’s voice turned shrill: "No, I can’t! My parents will despise me even more, and people will mock me endlessly..." She couldn’t accept it.

Wen Zhi mocked her outright: "What choice do you have? You claim you didn’t deliberately lead me there—You expect me to believe you didn’t mess with them? Right now, I’m just doing what you did back then—standing on the shore watching the show. Not kicking you while you’re down is mercy enough."

Silence lingered on the other end. Wen Zhi grew impatient. "Take a good look at yourself. You brought this upon yourself. You have to love yourself before others can love you." With that, she hung up with a sharp click.

The dial tone buzzed in Wen Bingchun’s ear as she clutched the phone, stunned.

Outside the room, Zhou Li’s curses erupted: "Get her out of here! Pack her things and kick her out! Good-for-nothing—not only does she get herself hated, but she drags Xiao Wen down too..."

Wen Jinyuan tried to mediate: "Enough, why get worked up over a lost cause? Don’t disturb Xiao Wen’s sleep. It’s too ugly to kick her out at this hour—just make her leave first thing tomorrow."

Her nails bit into the blackened phone screen as her heart sank to the depths.

You have to love yourself before others can love you. But why were some people born loved, while she was born to be despised?

After the call, Wen Zhi turned off her phone and fell into a deep sleep with Mu Mu in her arms.

The scenic Peach Blossom Island fell silent, save for the occasional call of an unknown bird. When the first rays of dawn touched the land, a whistle shattered the silence.

Three children peeked their heads out from upstairs, and Director Fang, in his long robe, waved at them: "Come down for breakfast, kids!"

Liu Yiru and Lin Jiyao leaned over the railing to look down. Wen Zhi emerged from her room, yawning, and leaned on the railing to ask, "Why so early today?"

Director Fang said excitedly, "After breakfast, we’ll decorate the inn. New guests and kids are arriving today!"

Liu Yiru gasped. "Who?"

Director Fang grinned. "A secret. You’ll find out when they arrive."

The live stream viewers’ curiosity was piqued.

"Who is it? Replacing Wen Bingchun?"

"The show’s so cold-blooded—Ice Beauty just left, and they’re already bringing in new people, even throwing a welcome party?"

"Ahhh! I want to know who it is! A hottie or a beauty? Please, no more fake saints!"

"Checked everywhere, but no celebrity has announced joining. The show just vaguely mentioned new arrivals. So mysterious—can’t wait.jpg."

Breakfast was simple—porridge with side dishes—but no one’s attention was on the food.

Xiao Xiao whispered to Sen Sen beside her, "Sen Sen, will it be a little brother or sister coming later?"

Sen Sen asked confused, "Why couldn't it be an older brother or sister?"

Xiao Xiao's eyes sparkled with anticipation, "If it's a little brother or sister, then I get to be the big sister! I want to give them gifts, take care of them, and bring them to learn from Mu Mu." The little girl turned her head and asked, "Mu Mu, do you think it'll be a brother or sister?"

Mu Mu thought for a moment and said, "I think it'll be a sister."

Xiao Xiao sulked, crossed her arms, and turned away, "I don’t want a sister, I want a little sister!"

Lin Jiyao stuffed a spoonful of porridge into her mouth, "You’re just a little one yourself, yet you want to take care of others? Master feeding yourself first."

Xiao Xiao grabbed the spoon defiantly and huffed, "I can eat by myself, I don’t need you to feed me!" With that, she began eating earnestly.

Liu Yiru was amused by her expression and teased Wen Zhi, "Do you think it’ll be a male or female guest?"

"Since when are you so nosy?" Wen Zhi leisurely nibbled on pickled bamboo shoots, acting all aloof.

Liu Yiru teased playfully, "How is this gossip? It’s just caring about new friends."

Wen Zhi replied, "Then I’ll say a female guest."

Liu Yiru asked, "Why?" Just after Wen Bingchun left, she was hoping for a male guest.

Wen Zhi answered honestly, "If a male guest comes, Ji Yao’s status as the 'heartthrob' might be in jeopardy."

"What the hell is 'show grass'?" Lin Jiyao glared at Wen Zhi.

"Hahaha! 'Show grass'—like the heartthrob of the show!"

"Or short for 'virtue'—hahaha, Lin Jiyao’s virtue is in danger!"

"Ji Yao’s arch-nemesis is Wen Zhi—she always gets under his skin."

"So let’s hope for a beautiful lady instead—his virtue is non-negotiable!"

Once breakfast was over, the parents and children began decorating the first floor of the inn.

Mostly just a quick cleanup, hanging a couple of colorful ribbons, and putting up a big "Welcome" sign at the entrance.

The calligraphy was done by Mu Mu. Though young, his brushwork already showed impressive skill, each stroke perfectly placed.

The audience marveled: "As expected of someone studying classical arts—his calligraphy is stunning."

"With handwriting like that, he must’ve been practicing since childhood."

"Ugh, Mu Mu makes me feel like I’ve wasted my years."

"Hahaha, he could set up a stall selling Spring Festival couplets with that skill!"

Just as they finished, there was a knock at the door. Xiao Xiao and Sen Sen raced excitedly to answer it, to reveal a veiled woman wearing purple leading a little girl in apricot-yellow standing at the entrance.

Liu Yiru nudged Wen Zhi sipping tea at the table and said excitedly, "Ha! You called it—it really is a woman."

"Hahaha, I called it too—it’s a female guest!"

"Wearing a veil? How mysterious!"

"Hurry up! I want to see her face. Judging by her figure and the way she walks, she must be a graceful beauty."

The veiled woman led the little girl into the inn, bowing slightly in greeting. "Greetings, everyone. Yu Yao and her little sister greet you."

Her voice was clear and poised, her manners impeccable. If not for the show, you’d think she was from ancient times.

Hearing her introduce herself, Wen Zhi, holding a glass cup, paused, startled, looking her up and down.

Yu Yao?

That voice sounded somewhat familiar!

A bad feeling hit her, but before she could dwell on it, Liu Yiru grabbed her arm and pulled her up.

Liu Yiru pulled her to face the veiled woman, returning the bow. "Hello."

Wen Zhi followed with a greeting, while Lin Jiyao gave a fist-palm salute.

Xiao Xiao looked left and right, tilting her head, curious. "Sister, why are you wearing a veil? Can you take it off so I can see what you look like?" The girl had already moved on from asking about a sister, her round eyes filled with nothing but curiosity.

The woman chuckled lightly. "Sorry, no. The show’s rules say: only if one of you here can beat me at arm wrestling can I remove the veil."

"What? Arm wrestling? Are the producers crazy? This woman doesn’t look particularly strong, and her exposed wrist is quite slender. Even Lin Jiyao could beat her, let alone Wen Zhi and Liu Yiru."

"This is too easy. Just take the veil off already."

"Exactly, exactly. I bet she’ll lose in the first round."

The little girl held by the veiled woman whispered, "My sister is really good at arm wrestling. Who wants to go first?"

The crew, loving the drama, quickly brought over a small table and two chairs.

The veiled woman released the little girl and sat down first, asking again, "Who’s first?"

Wen Zhi’s gaze remained fixed on her face, her face serious, her eyes full of suspicion. This person felt so familiar, yet it seemed impossible.

Liu Yiru stepped forward. "I’ll go first. Sending Ji Yao first would be unfair."

She sat opposite the veiled woman, and the two adjusted their positions. As soon as Director Fang said "go," Liu Yiru lost instantly.

"Did that even count as a match?" Liu Yiru was stunned.

The woman opposite gave a modest smile, and Liu Yiru smiled back before standing and walking over to Lin Jiyao, whispering, "She’s strong—watch out."

Lin Jiyao eyed the woman skeptically. How strong could she possibly be?

Yet, despite not underestimating her and being fully prepared, he was defeated by the veiled woman in three seconds.

Total humiliation.

The live stream viewers erupted instantly.

"Holy crap, the new guest has some skills! She looks delicate but turns out to be a powerhouse."

"Ahhh, think, think! Which female celebrity in the entertainment industry is known for being super strong and has a younger sister?"

"Ahhh, I’m so curious who it is! Sister Zhi, go for it! Show her who’s boss with your fierce energy!"

The veiled woman looked at Wen Zhi with a smile, her tone carrying a hint of provocation: "You're the only one left now."

Under the group's eager watch, Wen Zhi walked over and sat opposite her, placing a glass on the edge of the table before saying, "Let's begin."

At Director Fang's command, Wen Zhi easily pinned her opponent down without even exerting much force.

Mu Mu, Sen Sen, and Xiao Xiao cheered and jumped up, while Liu Yiru and Lin Jiyao exchanged glances between Wen Zhi and the veiled woman: They must know each other, right?

The audience lost it: So Wen Zhi was the secret strongwoman all along?

"LMAO, did our girl Sister Zhi win just by being pretty?"

"She wasn’t even trying to hide it—Wen Zhi barely used any strength, and she just toppled over herself."

"OMG, is this what they call pretty girls sticking together?"

"You win!" The veiled woman stood up, reaching behind her ear to remove the veil.

Everyone on set was glued to her face, while Wen Zhi stared unblinkingly at her eyes, her eyebrows knitted together.

One second, two seconds—the veil was lifted, revealing a delicate and elegant face.

Her eyes curved gently, and a small mole adorned her dainty chin.

It was a face Wen Zhi knew all too well.

CRASH—Wen Zhi’s glass suddenly tipped over and shattered.

The woman across from her extended a hand, grinning slyly. "Hello, I'm Chen Yuyao, joining *Baby!* starting today. Please take care of me."

Wen Zhi: WTF—Chen Yuyao? Isn’t this Zhang Yuyao, Empress Zhang from the Great Yong palace?

Wasn’t she in the cold palace?

How the hell did she get here?

Author's Note:

Wen Zhi: Empress Zhang looks all fragile, but she’s got a killer grip.

Zhang Yuyao: I wouldn’t dare compare—Noble Consort Wen’s wit cuts way deeper!