Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Director Fang and the crew rushed over to intervene, but both Wen Zhi and Chen Yuyao shouted simultaneously, "Back off!"

Everyone was startled and didn’t dare approach.

Director Fang thought to himself: These two roar with an aura that seemed larger than life. Wen Zhi being rich is one thing, but how does a newcomer also have such intimidating presence?

The other children were frozen in fear, but Mu Mu didn’t care—anyone who dared touch his mother would face his wrath. He waddled over on his little legs, but Wen Zhi barked at him without looking, "Mu Mu, don’t come here. Turn around and cover your ears."

Mu Mu lifted his little foot, hesitated, then reluctantly turned around and covered his ears.

Seeing this, Director Fang waved his hand, signaling the rest of the crew to follow suit and turn away. Lin Jiyao wanted to step forward, but Liu Yiru grabbed his hand and shook her head, silently turning away as well.

Behind them came a racket of crashes and thuds, and the occasional object flying past—Director Fang even felt something hit the back of his head.

After about twenty minutes, the chaos finally subsided.

Director Fang cautiously turned around: Wen Zhi stood panting in the distance, her face flushed with fury, while Chen Yuyao sat a mess on the ground. Their balloon costumes were torn to shreds, the once-neat spring net was in tatters, pinwheel balloons lay scattered, and even the rainbow carpet beneath them was ruined.

They really went at it.

Wen Zhi tossed over her shoulder, "I’ll pay for the damages," then marched off like she'd won, ignoring everyone’s stares.

Only after she entered the inn did Chen Yuyao rise from the ground, smoothing her messy hair and touching her face. With the whole crew watching, she wordlessly followed into the inn.

A worried assistant piped up, "Director Fang, they won’t fight again, will they?"

Director Fang sighed. "Doubt it." Both had clearly been at their breaking point, but after the fight, their expressions had visibly calmed.

They were smart enough to know another brawl would be ridiculous.

"Don’t just stand there—get back to the livestream," Director Fang said to Lin Jiyao and Liu Yiru. "Let those two rest. You two take over with the four kids. Let’s move to the other side of the yard for snacks and a chat session."

That was all they could do.

Mu Mu kept looking back over his shoulder at the inn as he walked toward the other side of the yard, whispering to Xiao Hei, "Xiao Hei, listen carefully. If that woman dares to hit Mom again, let me know."

Xiao Hei seemed to understand, obediently letting out two barks.

Back in her room, Wen Zhi grabbed the first-aid kit to tend to the cuts on her hands, then checked her face in the mirror. Luckily just her hands and back had taken a few hits—her face was unscathed. Setting the mirror down, she finished treating her wounds and rubbed her temples.

She'd lost her cool.

In the Great Yong palace, without connections or backing, she had endured humiliation, false accusations, and persecution—had to get even in roundabout ways.

Only now, after pinning that woman down and fighting it out, did she finally feel that weight lift.

As she was figuring out how to get back at Chen Yuyao next, a knock came at the door.

Assuming it was Liu Yiru, she called out, "Come in." Instead, Chen Yuyao entered, sporting bruises on her cheek and lip, clutching a thermos.

Wen Zhi smirked coldly. "What, looking for another beating?"

Chen Yuyao made a face, stepping closer to place the thermos in front of her. "Here to apologize. I broke yours."

Wen Zhi glanced at it. "You didn't poison the rim?"

Chen Yuyao rolled her eyes. "What do you take me for?"

Wen Zhi: "Oh please, wasn’t it you who poisoned me with those mushrooms?"

Seeing her dredge up the past, Chen Yuyao didn’t hold back either: "You started it by hiding needles in my bedding."

Wen Zhi retorted sharply: "Then who framed me for theft?"

Chen Yuyao: "If you hadn’t stolen my birthday gift, would I have framed you?"

Whatever. That old mess is too tangled to untangle now.

Wen Zhi couldn’t be bothered to argue with her.

Glaring at her with an icy smirk, she said, "This is the modern era. A nobody like you strutting around in front of me, a rich woman—you begging to get crushed?"

Chen Yuyao frowned: "This is a law-abiding society. Besides, our feud was from Great Yong. Can’t we just reconcile here?"

Wen Zhi looked at her as if she were an idiot: "Two lives stand between us. If I hadn’t come back, I’d be lying at the bottom of Luming Lake."

"You were the one who sent me to the cold palace first. Because of you, my Zhang family fell apart—some imprisoned, some exiled." She paused, then added, "And besides, the ‘me’ now isn’t the same me. I’ve already died once, so consider it repayment to you."

Wen Zhi scoffed but still asked, "How did you die?"

Chen Yuyao’s bruised face paled slightly, her eyes burning with hate as she sank into memory.

"Lu Xun used me as a human shield."

Wen Zhi sneered: "Classic him."

Ignoring her, Chen Yuyao continued, "After you and Mu Mu jumped into the lake, Lu Xun ordered people to drag the lake for weeks and came up empty. Back in the palace, he refused to announce your death and still insisted on making you empress—what was I supposed to be then? I went to confront him, but Lu Xun turned on me. Not only did he eliminate witnesses among the remaining Wen family, he also turned around and accused my Zhang family of scheming against the new empress, imprisoning all seventy-two members of the Wen family."

"At that point, Senior Tutor Shen sought out my elder brother and plotted a rebellion. Without my knowledge, they acted. A month after your death, my brother and Senior Tutor Shen staged a coup, forcing Lu Xun to the edge of Luming Lake. I rushed to beg my brother, but Lu Xun took me hostage and used me as a shield. In the end, I was stabbed and fell into the lake. When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed, having become Chen Yuyao."

Wen Zhi mocked: "Were you out of your mind? Your father and brother were rebelling, and you went to stop them? If you’d stopped them, your whole family would’ve lost their heads!"

Chen Yuyao’s face twisted with regret, her eyes full of hatred: "You’re right to scold me. Pathetic, right? I loved him with everything I had. He personally sent Sui An away—he slipped musk into the sachet you gave me." Later, my father and brother found out, but they tacitly approved, hiding it from me in exchange for other benefits and even sending my half-sister into the palace.

She only found out when she was about to die.

Lu Xun never loved her.

He married her only because she was a Zhang.

Wen Zhi was stunned: So Chen Yuyao had suddenly turned on her back then, persecuting her to death, because of this?

Lu Xun was a real snake.

Wen Zhi asked in surprise: "Shen Yizhi? Wasn’t he Mr. Morality? How could he rebel?"

Chen Yuyao scoffed: "Mr. Morality? He was batshit crazy."

Wen Zhi stared at her: "Take it or leave it. You think I’d buy that?"

Chen Yuyao gave a bleak smile: "Take it or leave it. I’m in your era now—I’m Chen Yuyao. From this day on, I have no ties to Great Yong, Lu Xun, or the Zhang family. I’m not Empress Zhang, but the rags-to-riches golden girl, Chen Yuyao."

Wen Zhi studied her for a moment before abruptly changing the subject: "Truth or dare—you claimed you didn’t hate anyone here?"

Chen Yuyao explained: "I told you, I’m Chen Yuyao now. Chen Yuyao doesn’t know you, so no hate—and definitely no love for Lu Xun."

Wen Zhi: "You knew I was recording a show. Why did you still come?" She wasn’t forgiving—she always paid back every slight.

Chen Yuyao sighed helplessly, "What can I do? I’m in debt to the company, so I have to come when they tell me to. I also have a younger sister and parents to support." Since she had taken over Chen Yuyao's body, she had to accept her family responsibilities as well.

Wen Zhi: "Then why did you ask Ji Yao those weird questions earlier?"

Chen Yuyao: "You ganged up on me, so I just disrupted your rhythm. Besides, I’ve realized that loyalty never pays off. From now on, I’ll just be myself—playing the field isn’t so bad. Lin Jiyao is quite good-looking."

Hah. The Empress of Great Yong wants to be a flirt now?

And her first target is Lin Jiyao.

Sure, there are plenty of modern players, but Lin Jiyao isn’t Lu Xun—he’s not that easy.

Wen Zhi’s expression turned cold. "I don’t want to see you. Either you quit the show, or I’ll ruin you."

Chen Yuyao frowned. "I’ve got something to trade."

Wen Zhi: "I don’t want to know anything."

Chen Yuyao insisted, "No, you do. Lu Xun and Senior Tutor Shen are probably here too."

Wen Zhi froze, nearly dropping the medicine box in her hands. "What do you mean?"

Chen Yuyao: "Lu Xun used me to block Senior Tutor Shen’s sword. Before I fell into the water, I saw Lu Xun stab Shen too, and then Shen grabbed Lu Xun by the neck and jumped into the lake." The rebels were all terrified by Senior Tutor Shen’s madness at the time.

Wen Zhi’s eyes glazed over for a moment. "Shen Yizhi... is dead?" He was practically her only friend in Great Yong.

They had known each other since youth, and he had saved her from danger multiple times. Later, their encounters were few and far between, mostly just distant glances.

Even when they met face to face, he would only respectfully address her as "Your Majesty."

Most of what she knew about him was from Mu Mu.

"Hard to say," Chen Yuyao said. "But there was so much blood—could’ve been his or mine—it turned half of Luming Lake red. Since I could come here, he and Lu Xun probably did too."

Wen Zhi stood up. "Where are they?"

Chen Yuyao shook her head. "I don’t know. But I can help you look. If we find Lu Xun, I’ll help you kill him."

"In return, I’m a nobody now. If you back off, I’ll stay out of your way after we deal with Lu Xun. Once I’ve paid off my debts, I’ll disappear from the public eye completely."

Wen Zhi said meaningfully, "This is a society ruled by law. Killing people’s against the law."

Chen Yuyao: "I know. But if he’s here, he’ll definitely come looking for you and Mu Mu. Killing’s against the law, but if he asks for it, we can just make sure he rots in prison."

Wen Zhi scoffed. "Empress Zhang’s picked up modern ways fast."

Seeing her laugh, Chen Yuyao finally relaxed. "I wouldn’t dream of it. Noble Consort Wen learns even faster. Back then, you mastered the pipa in just a month and became a virtuoso in less than a year."

"Cut the flattery," Wen Zhi’s tone turned sharp as she glared at the woman before her. "Why should I believe you’ll actually help me?" After all, people don’t just stop being love-struck fools.

Chen Yuyao met her gaze and gritted her teeth. "I swear by Sui An—if I betray you, may I never see him again in this life or any other."

"Fine, I’ll trust you." Wen Zhi raised her hand. "Here, take it. From now on, act normal on the show. No faking it around me."

Chen Yuyao: "Faking it is exhausting anyway." With that, she grabbed the thermos and left.

Neither felt like attending the afternoon tea party, and they only reappeared at lunch. Wen Zhi had changed into a silk casual outfit, her black hair tied up high, her cheeks rosy—no sign of their earlier fight. Beside her, Chen Yuyao’s eyes were lively, her demeanor gentle and graceful, the bruises on her face concealed by makeup, none of the earlier humiliation visible.

The two sat together as if nothing had happened, with Chen Yuyao occasionally pushing dishes in front of Wen Zhi—always ones Wen Zhi liked. Her attitude was neither submissive nor overbearing, her quiet favors never annoying.

The photographers and crew members silently shifted their gazes between the two of them.

Across the table, Liu Yiru and Lin Jiyao glanced back and forth, utterly confused: Did these two suddenly become close after a fight?

Is this the so-called—no fight, no friendship?

The live stream viewers were also baffled.

"Is this some new way to butter someone up? Fight first, then get close?"

"Waaah, Sister Zhi, hit me next! I promise I won’t fight back."

"Hahahaha, Chen Yuyao clearly did her homework—she's memorized all of Wen Zhi’s favorite foods."

Chen Yuyao pushed dishes over, and Wen Zhi ate while also putting food on Mu Mu's plate.

Though she disliked Chen Yuyao, she wasn't about to turn down good food. Besides, she had just said things would proceed as usual—she wouldn’t cause trouble during the show.

After watching for a few minutes, Liu Yiru couldn’t hold back anymore and asked, "Wen Zhi, you two…?"

Wen Zhi lifted her gaze and replied coolly, "Nothing much, just a misunderstanding earlier."

Chen Yuyao put down her chopsticks and nodded along. "Right, there was a misunderstanding before. Sister Wen is big-hearted and didn’t hold it against me."

The way she was talking—

Wen Zhi almost couldn’t recognize the dignified and graceful Empress Zhang anymore.

Had Lu Xun’s betrayal driven her to this? Playing meek—what an act.

Hearing Chen Yuyao speak, Lin Jiyao couldn’t help but twitch his mouth before poking his little sister. "Why aren’t you eating? Why are you staring at others like that? Don’t you know it’s annoying?"

Chen Yuyao gave him a look: Was he making a dig at her?

Xiao Xiao, however, didn’t get the dig. The little girl ducked away from his hand and pouted. "I’m not annoying, I’m cute!" She pointed at Chen Yueliang’s hair with her chubby fingers. "Yue Yue’s hairpin is so pretty! It’s pink and has a little moon!"

Chen Yueliang smiled, her eyes curving. "Pretty, right? My sister bought it for me. I have lots more—I’ll show them to you later."

"Really?" Xiao Xiao beamed. "Yue Yue, you’re the best!"

True to her word, after dinner, Chen Yueliang pulled out a small box of hairpins from her backpack and went to find Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao opened the door, and Chen Yuyao gently nudged her sister inside. Once inside, she quickly checked the room—the live stream equipment was off, and Lin Jiyao wasn’t there.

"Xiao Xiao, where’s your brother?"

Xiao Xiao was too engrossed in the pretty hairpins to pay much attention. "If Sister Yuyao wants to see him, just wait in the room. He said he’d be back soon."

Chen Yuyao just said 'Mm-hmm' and sat at the table, watching the two kids play with the hairpins.

The little metal box was filled with all kinds of shiny hair accessories, making Xiao Xiao's eyes go wide with wonder as she kept going 'Ooo!' and 'Wow!' Little Dumpling grumbled as she looked, "Yue Yue, your sister is so nice—she bought you so many hairpins. Not like my brother, who won’t even let me touch his really pretty star hairpin. What a meanie!"

She was working herself up.

Yue Yue grabbed the star-shaped hairpin from the box. "Prove it!"

"I’m not lying—it really is prettier than yours!"

"No way," Yue Yue scoffed. "All the kindergarten kids are jealous of mine."

Xiao Xiao got anxious and hurriedly ran to the bed, fishing out a box from under the pillow to show Chen Yueliang.

"Look, this is my brother’s star hairpin. Isn’t it pretty? I really wasn’t lying."

The box in Xiao Xiao’s hands looked old, clearly having been around for years. Inside, the star hairpin was cushioned on velvet, its gems glittering under the light, blazingly bright—almost blinding.

Chen Yuyao: This must be expensive!

No wonder Noble Consort Wen looked down on the palace treasures back then—modern gemstones are just too flashy.

"Wow, it really is so pretty!" Chen Yueliang exclaimed, reaching out to touch it.

Xiao Xiao quickly closed the box, serious. "No touching. This is my brother’s treasure, from someone he likes." Even she wasn’t allowed to touch it, let alone others.

Chen Yuyao perked up with interest. "Someone your brother likes?" She had just started thinking Lin Jiyao was decent, and now she finds out he already has someone.

Xiao Xiao puffed her cheeks at her. "Yeah, don’t you check your phone, Sister Yuyao? All of my brother’s fans know he has someone he likes."

Chen Yuyao gave a noncommittal 'oh,' pulling out her phone to look it up, then chuckled.

So he’s the loyal type, huh? Loyalty like that usually ends in heartbreak.

A knock came from the door, and the three looked up to see Sen Sen peeking in. "Little Sister Xiao Xiao, go study with Mu Mu. Want to come?"

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Xiao immediately tucked the star hairpin back in place and grabbed her little backpack. As she passed Chen Yueliang, she took her hand. "Sister Yue Yue, come with us! Brother Mu Mu is crazy smart and cool. He knows everything and even tells me stories about Princess Elsa!"

Hearing there’d be stories, Chen Yueliang dashed after them.

Chen Yuyao walked to the door of the *Celestial* room, thought for a moment, then went downstairs to slice up a plate of fruit and brought it in.

Xiao Xiao happily tugged Chen Yueliang along, calling out, "Brother Mu Mu, Brother Mu Mu! Sister Yue Yue says she wants to study too. Now there’s four of us again!"

Chen Yueliang’s big eyes filled with confusion. Weren’t they supposed to listen to stories? How did it turn into studying?

Her summer homework was already done—what was there to study?

Mu Mu loved kids who enjoyed learning and immediately rummaged through his locked box, pulling out a thick book to hand her as a friendly gesture. "I gave them books too, so here’s one for you. This one’s brand new!"

Chen Yueliang’s face scrunched up as she took the book, her tiny body wobbling slightly under its weight. "It’s so heavy..."

The live stream viewers cracked up.

"Hahaha, is Xiao Xiao tricking people into joining? Finally, someone else gets to suffer with her!"

"Hahaha, this little rule-follower’s dream must be teaching—seems like a perfect fit."

"Watching this makes me want to send my kid to Mu Mu for lessons!"

While most were focused on the kids, a small portion of viewers tried to sneak glances past the beaded curtain at Wen Zhi.

Behind the curtain, a soft carpet had been laid out at some point. Wen Zhi lounged on the chaise, still dressed, the chair swaying gently as she held a wooden box, staring at something inside.

"What’s Wen Zhi doing? She’s been in that position for a while."

"That wooden box in her hands looks so exquisite. Probably some fancy jewelry she’s looking at."

"Ughhh, I need a closer look!"

Wen Zhi didn’t come closer, but the live stream camera was totally blocked when Chen Yuyao walked in.

The audience wondered why she had come, only to see her carrying a fruit platter and heading straight towards Wen Zhi.

Well, here she comes again, trying to suck up.

Chen Yuyao approached and set the fruit platter down: "Have some fruit."

Wen Zhi glanced up at her: "Here to annoy me again?"

Chen Yuyao’s gaze fell on the brocade box, where a fully diamond-studded star hairpin lay quietly—the spitting image of the one she had just seen in Lin Jiyao’s room.

Her eyes gleamed slightly, her voice dripping with envy: "I always thought you were just a small-town girl, but turns out you’re loaded here. Where did you buy this hairpin? That must've set you back a pretty penny?" The edge of the box was also engraved with a logo she couldn’t decipher.

Wen Zhi snapped the wooden box shut, her voice flat: "Spit it out or get lost."

Chen Yuyao: "We’re on air—millions are watching."

Their voices were hushed, and even though the audience strained their ears, they couldn’t make out what was being said, driving them crazy: *Can y'all speak up? We want to learn how to suck up too.*

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Wen Zhi called out, "Come in," and Lin Jiyao entered with his hands behind his back.

When he spotted Chen Yuyao, his gaze wavered slightly, looking uneasy.

Chen Yuyao, however, gave him a bright greeting and glanced behind him, puzzled: "What did Ji Yao bring?"

At her question, Wen Zhi also looked up and indeed saw a box in Lin Jiyao’s hands.

Lin Jiyao gave a little cough, placed the item on the table, and said calmly: "I saw your cup broke earlier. This one’s stainless steel—indestructible. Use this from now on."

This time, their voices weren’t deliberately lowered, so the audience heard everything clearly.

"Awwww, Ji Yao's such a sweetheart!"

"LMAO, Lin Jiyao’s sucking up too, and he’s way smoother than Chen Yuyao."

"Does no one suspect Lin Jiyao isn’t just sucking up but actually likes Wen Zhi, hence the thermos?"

Fans weren't buying it.

"What kinda crap are you spewing? Lin Jiyao looks at Wen Zhi like she’s got the plague, keeps his distance like she's radioactive. No way that’s true."

"LMAO, exactly! Our Ji Yao's no dummy—why would he like someone who's always playing him?"

"Don’t tarnish our Ji Yao’s pure intentions of sucking up!"

"Talk about hitting the bullseye with gifts!"

Yet Wen Zhi didn’t take it.

Lin Jiyao's hand tightened around the cup: "You don’t want it?"

"...It’s not that I don’t want it." She casually pulled out a thermos from behind and waved it. "Director Fang gave it to me after dinner. Said the production crew really knows how to work it and told me to grab another if I break this one."

Lin Jiyao: "..."

The air got real awkward.

The audience lost it laughing.

"LMAO, the production crew really knows how to work it—they're the real pros at sucking up!"

"Boo hoo, our Ji Yao finally took the initiative to show kindness, couldn't Wen Zhi just accept it without saying anything?"

Chen Yuyao's gaze shifted between the two, her mind racing: Is Wen Zhi Lin Jiyao's First Love? Wen Zhi might not know, Lin Jiyao might not either, but he clearly has feelings for her.

If these two got together, wouldn't that mean making a cuckold of Lu Xun?

If there was anyone Lu Xun truly loved in this life, it would have to be Noble Consort Wen.

Otherwise, after Noble Consort Wen took her own life in the lake, he wouldn't have searched for over half a month and then sat silently in Wen Zhi's quarters for three days and nights.

Empress Zhang was always willing to do anything that could upset Lu Xun.

Lin Jiyao frowned, took the thermos bottle from her hand, and pushed his own into her hands: "If it's a gift, just accept it."

Just as Wen Zhi was hesitating, the door opened again. This time, before she could speak, Liu Yiru walked in automatically. Seeing them, she smiled: "Everyone's here."

She stepped forward and casually handed something to Wen Zhi: "Here, for you."

Wen Zhi looked at her left hand, then her right, and asked blankly: "Don't tell me it's a thermos bottle?"

Liu Yiru was surprised: "How did you know?"

Wen Zhi raised her hand: "Ji Yao also gave me one."

His face darkened at being named.

Liu Yiru: "..."

"Just take it, I specially bought it—and it wasn't cheap," she said.

Wen Zhi pouted: "Director Fang already gave me one."

Chen Yuyao: "I gave her one too."

The audience completely lost their composure, laughing uncontrollably.

"Hahaha, is this a thermos party?"

"Sister Zhi is amazing—break one, get four. Gotta distribute the affection evenly!"

"Hahaha, are you trying to make me die laughing? Sharing love over thermoses?!"

"Sisters, don't stop me, I'm sending Sister Zhi a thermos bottle too!"

"Haha, I won't stop you—let's do it together!"

Liu Yiru and Lin Jiyao stared at Wen Zhi, clearly expecting her to choose one.

Wen Zhi silently accepted both thermos bottles and began dodging: "They're both nice, I'll keep them. Here's my plan—I'll use Director Fang's during filming since it's already in use. After we wrap up, I'll use Ji Yao's on Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays and Sister Liu's on Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays. How's that sound?"

Liu Yiru: "..."

Lin Jiyao muttered: "Whatever."

Wen Zhi said, "Since there are no objections, I'll put these away now." As she spoke, she rose from the chaise lounge, tripped over her own feet, and nearly fell.

Liu Yiru laughed and caught her: "Where should I put them? I'll do it—don't worry, even if you don't use them, it won't affect our friendship."

Wen Zhi nodded eagerly, pointing to the footlocker at the foot of the bed: "Put them there. I'll definitely use them!"

While the two turned around to put away the cups, Chen Yuyao seized the moment and pretended to accidentally swipe the wooden box on the table to the ground. As long as Lin Jiyao saw the star hairpin, he would surely ask about it, and the two might recognize each other on the spot.

At the very least, with millions of live stream viewers watching, even if Wen Zhi denied it, the live stream viewers would still ship them together and "lock" them as a pair.

The wooden box fell onto the soft carpet without making much noise. However, the box itself was only half-closed, and when it rolled off, it opened completely.

The dazzling, fully diamond-studded star hairpin rolled straight to Lin Jiyao’s feet.

He only glanced at it, and his face twitched violently: This hairpin was the one he had picked up under the music store table years ago—it belonged to Nuan Nuan. He had kept it for years, originally bringing it to tell Wen Zhi a story, but later he just wanted to hide it away forever, never to be discovered.

So, why was it here?

Panicked and flustered, he didn’t even notice the difference in the box. Moving so fast his leg became a blur, he kicked the box under the bed.

At the same time, Chen Yuyao, who had knocked the box to the floor, let out an "Oops!" and called out to Sister Wen Zhi, "That—" She was about to point at the fallen wooden box but then froze.

The soft carpet was spotless—there was no wooden box in sight.

Did it vanish?

Her gaze subtly swept around Lin Jiyao’s feet: Where was it?

Lin Jiyao stretched while scratching the back of his head and looked up at the ceiling.

Sister Wen Zhi and Liu Yiru turned around simultaneously: "What’s wrong?"

Chen Yuyao: "Uh, nothing!" She couldn’t very well say she had knocked Sister Wen Zhi’s diamond hairpin to the floor—that thing looked expensive, and Sister Wen Zhi would murder her.

Both of them had acted too quickly, and the live stream viewers didn’t notice a thing.

Feeling guilty after doing something sneaky, Chen Yuyao made a quick exit with her sister. Lin Jiyao didn’t stay long either, heading back on his own. Liu Yiru, with nothing better to do, stayed in the room to chat with Sister Wen Zhi.

Only when Sen Sen fell asleep on the small table did she carry the child back to her own room.

After seeing off Lin Jiyao, who had come to pick up Xiao Xiao, Mu Mu zipped up his backpack and immediately ran up to Sister Wen Zhi, asking seriously, "Mom, why were you fighting with Sister Yuyao today? Did she bully you?"

"No," Sister Wen Zhi said, taking off his shoes and settling him against the wall side of the bed. "Sister Yuyao was just wrestling with me for fun."

"Really?" Mu Mu didn’t believe her.

Lying to kids again.

Mom had looked ready to kill earlier.

Sister Wen Zhi poked his little head and started spinning a yarn: "To be a happy child, besides not staying up late, you also shouldn’t overthink things, or you’ll turn into a little old man."

Mu Mu murmured "Oh" dutifully and pulled the covers up to sleep. After the lights were turned off, his dark eyes blinked twice. Mom was always like this, shouldering everything solo.

It seemed even having money wasn’t enough—he needed to grow up fast to protect her.

While Sister Wen Zhi turned in for the night, Lin Jiyao found himself unable to sleep. Because he realized his own hairpin was still safely tucked under his pillow—so Sister Wen Zhi’s hairpin was part of a pair? And he had kicked hers under the bed?

Lying in bed, he flipped like a pancake, unable to sleep: What should he do? Maybe scope a chance tomorrow to sneak it back for her?

At the same time, Chen Yuyao was also wracking her brain: That box had clearly fallen near Lin Jiyao’s feet—there was no way he hadn’t noticed it. So why had it disappeared between blinks?

She chewed on it relentlessly but couldn’t figure it out, deciding she’d have to scope a chance to check again tomorrow.

Both of them kept thinking until they finally fell asleep in the wee hours. But it felt like they had just closed their eyes when they were abruptly awakened by a racket.

The sound came from Wen Zhi's room. Lin Jiyao and Chen Yuyao were the first to jump up and hurry toward it, with Liu Yiru following closely behind.

When they got to the door, they heard Wen Zhi’s panicked voice: "I definitely left it on the table, but it was gone when I woke up. I’ve looked everywhere—it’s gone! Quick, pull up the security cameras to see where it went!"

Director Fang was equally anxious and asked, "What’s missing?"

Wen Zhi: "A wooden box containing a fully diamond-studded hairpin."

Director Fang’s heart skipped a beat: "That’s gotta be pricey, right?"

Wen Zhi: "Custom-made, worth millions."

Director Fang: "..." *Reaches for an oxygen mask.*

"Move it! Check the cameras NOW! Everyone else, come help search—every inch of the floor!"

Chen Yuyao and Lin Jiyao, who stood frozen in the doorway, were shoved inside by Liu Yiru, who urged anxiously, "Something’s missing. Quick, let’s help look for it!"

Chen Yuyao: *Okay, full disclosure—I was the one who knocked it off.*

Lin Jiyao: *Okay, full disclosure—I was the one who kicked it under the bed.*

Now, the production team is about to check the surveillance footage...

We’re screwed!

Author’s Note:

Lin Jiyao: *Once, true love was right in front of me... and I kicked it under the bed!*

*My foot hurts—I just punted a fortune!!!*