Chapter 37: Restoring Yan Yueqing’s Reputation

The saleswoman was once again stunned. Even after processing the payment and returning to the sales office for the contract, she remained in a daze.

Wow! Is selling houses this easy now? This mother and son took barely half an hour from entering to finalizing the purchase!

It felt like being hit by a pie falling from the sky – an unexpected windfall!

Recalling their bold demeanor, she thought, ‘What a wealthy, carefree goddess of a mother! I wish I had someone like that too!’ She was so jealous, she could practically chew her handkerchief to shreds.^[1]“咬手帕” (yǎo shǒupà) – Literally “biting a handkerchief,” this is a comedic expression used to describe extreme jealousy or envy.

When a colleague saw her early return, he teased, “Xiao Cui, how was it serving a big star?”

Xiao Cui frowned, “What big star?”

Her colleague laughed, “The client you just served! That mom is Yan Yueqing, who’s been trending online recently!”

“Yan Yueqing?”

The colleague jeered, “You didn’t know? She may look pretty, but her reputation in the industry is terrible! In all her variety show appearances, she’s either brainless or just silly. What a waste of that pretty face!^[2]白瞎那张好看的脸” (bái xiā nà zhāng hǎokàn de liǎn) – This phrase means “to waste that pretty face,” implying that someone’s actions or behavior … Continue reading Recently, celebrities even issued a statement about weeding out problematic artists. They didn’t name names, but everyone knows they meant her!”

“Really?” Xiao Cui rarely followed celebrities and knew little about such matters.

“Why would I lie? Check Weibo yourself. Everyone’s buzzing about it! Someone who debuted on a dating show suddenly revealed she has a child—it’s laughable.”

“There are even rumors that she was already photographed with an illegitimate child. They couldn’t agree on a price, so she’s afraid they’ll leak the photos. That’s why she revealed it first, creating a ‘good mom’ image for herself!”

The colleague glanced behind to ensure Yan Yueqing and her son hadn’t followed, then whispered mysteriously, “I bet she’s just putting on a show, pretending to browse properties as if she’s buying a house to live with her son. Who knows? Maybe she’ll change her image from pure innocent girl to gentle mother, dragging her son into the industry to make money together!”

Buying a house to live together was true.

However, Yan Yueqing didn’t take the lavishly decorated Lishui Jiangling seriously!

It was merely a temporary stop…

Only slightly more upscale than a five-star hotel!

The home she truly wanted was a cozy nest she designed herself. How could these ready-made apartments compare?

Xiao Cui shook her head with a smile: “You’ve all misunderstood. Yan Yueqing is a good mother!”

Seeing her colleague’s disbelief, she proudly held up the purchase contract, determined to clear this good mother’s name: “The best unit, paid in full, only in her son’s name! Who else could do that? If you don’t believe me, go ask Finance if an 86.2 million payment just came in!”

Her colleague was stunned for five seconds before reacting: “What the hell, she really bought it?!”

By the time Xiao Cui finished all the procedures, two hours had passed.

When she went to deliver the contract, Yan Yueqing had already called in several deliveries, filling the house with the warm, lively atmosphere of everyday life.”

Yan Wang sat on the comfortable sofa, his gaze fixed on his mother. Every time she turned to look at him, he quickly lowered his head to focus on his tablet.

He seemed extremely awkward.

After dinner, Yan Wang calmly went to wash up. When Yan Yueqing finished tidying the kitchen, she turned to see her little one standing barefoot at the door, hugging a small blanket.

He looked up, his cool eyes tinged with confusion.

As if asking: “Which room do I sleep in?”

Yan Yueqing didn’t hesitate: “Of course you’ll sleep with me in the master bedroom!”

Her young son had been living in the hospital all this time; he’d surely struggle to adjust to a new environment! Besides, her baby was still sick—how could she let him sleep alone?

Yan Wang was clearly startled by her words.

He stood frozen, hugging his little blanket, as if struck by lightning.

Only then did Yan Yueqing remember their awkward relationship, thinking Yan Wang probably didn’t want to sleep with her at all. She coughed awkwardly: “Um… well… ahem, Mom just thought it would be too lonely for you to sleep alone… If you don’t want to, then baobao can choose his own room…”

Sigh… she had spoken too naturally earlier! She hadn’t considered her son’s feelings at all. What a mistake.

The little one, hearing this, gently pursed his lips.

His pale face suddenly gained a bit of color.

The next second, as if having made up his mind…

Yan Wang walked straight into the master bedroom.

This little tsundere! His expression said refusal, but he knew the way to the master bedroom better than anyone! 

Yan Yueqing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

At that moment, the system suddenly prompted:

[Yan Wang’s favorability +5.]

[Current favorability: -35.]

Huh? Sleeping with her son also increased favorability?

Not bad! If they kept spending time together like this, positive favorability was just around the corner!

After tidying everything up, Yan Yueqing thought for a moment, retrieved a storybook from the pile of things she’d bought, and returned to the room.

Little Yan Wang lay perfectly still on the bed.

His eyes were closed, but his breathing quickened slightly as his mother approached.

Seeing the cold sweat on his forehead, Yan Yueqing felt a pang of heartache.

Ah… a child who hasn’t experienced a mother’s love is like this.

Even a little kindness becomes something to be extremely cautious about!

Longing to receive it, yet afraid of losing it…

These extreme emotions swirling in his heart could drive even adults mad, let alone a child.

She lowered her voice: “Baobao, are you asleep? Would you like Mom to tell you a story?”

Yan Wang didn’t respond, but his trembling eyelashes noticeably steadied.

Yan Yueqing sat beside him and opened the storybook. Her gentle voice flowed like a babbling brook: “Let Mom tell you a story about a little duckling.

Once upon a time, Mama Duck took her little duckling swimming. The pond was so big, and the reeds were so pretty. As Mama Duck swam and swam, she forgot she had brought her little duckling out with her… When she remembered, the little duckling was already gone.

Mama Duck searched and searched. The little duckling was all alone in the reeds, thinking Mama Duck didn’t want him anymore, feeling terribly sad. But then… she finally found her little duckling…”

As she reached this point, she sighed softly and looked down.

Only to find her son already staring at her.

His dark eyes held a subtle mix of hope and melancholy.

Yan Yueqing said gently: “Mama Duck didn’t mean to leave her baby behind. She knows she was wrong and wants the little duckling to forgive her. But… can the little duckling forgive her? Baobei, what do you think Mama Duck should say for the little duckling to trust her again?”

The simple story mirrored their own relationship.

How could Yan Wang not understand that his mother was seeking reconciliation?

Recently, she had indeed changed a lot.

She was considerate, gentle, attentive…

But could these things erase the pain from back then?

Could they make him forget… that mom once wanted him dead?

Yan Wang’s heart trembled violently, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions, leaving him breathless.

Yan Yueqing didn’t dare speak further; she could only reach out and gently pat her son’s back.

After a long silence, the aloof little boy finally spoke softly: “Why… didn’t you let me join the show?”

Yan Yueqing was caught off guard: “Huh?”