Luo Jinyu’s nose tingled slightly, and an unfamiliar urge to cry welled up inside her. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around the little boy in front of her, inhaling the faint scent of milk on him. Strangely, it gave her a sense of peace.

Is this what a blood connection feels like? she wondered.

“Mommy, don’t cry,” Jing Jiayi lifted his head from her embrace, his voice trembling slightly as if he was about to cry himself.

Luo Jinyu quickly curved her lips into a smile. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes arched into crescents, carrying a warmth she wasn’t even aware of herself. “Mommy’s not crying. Mommy’s happy!”

Jing Jiayi stared at her in a daze before murmuring, “Mommy, you look so pretty when you smile today.”

Luo Jinyu couldn’t help but burst into laughter. They say children speak from the heart—his words were truly an unexpected but delightful compliment.

She bent her arms and scooped up the little dumpling in one swift motion. Jing Jiayi let out a startled yelp but quickly realized that his usually strict mother was actually playing with him. His giggles rang out in bright, clear tones.

The woman’s soft, charming laughter blended with the child’s crisp giggles, floating through the open window and carrying into the crisp autumn morning breeze.

—

Jing Sihan had just stepped into the courtyard when he heard the sounds coming from the second floor. He looked up and caught a glimpse of a delicate, slender silhouette through the sheer white curtains fluttering in the wind. A fair, slender arm flashed by before disappearing again.

The gardener, who had been watering the flowers, noticed Jing Sihan and greeted him with a smile. “Young Master, you’re back. No wonder Miss Luo and Little Master seem to be in such a good mood today!”

Luo Jinyu had always insisted that the servants address her as “Madam,” but everyone in the Jing family knew the truth. In front of Jing Sihan, no one dared to invite bad luck by calling her that.

As expected, Jing Sihan frowned slightly but said nothing. He simply nodded before carrying the toy in his hand and stepping inside the house.

Jing Sihan’s father, Jing Chongshan, was sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper. He glanced at his son with his usual stern expression. “You’re back.”

Jing Sihan greeted him with a brief “Dad,” before turning to see his mother, Mei Wan, carrying a freshly arranged vase of flowers. She noticed the toy in his hand and smiled. “Good, you bought one. Quickly, go give it to Jiayi—he’ll be overjoyed! And while you’re at it, wake up Jinyu and tell her to come down for breakfast, alright?”

Jing Sihan frowned impatiently. “It’s already this late, and she still needs someone to wake her up?”

“It’s not like that,” Mei Wan shook her head, explaining, “Jiayi was sick last week, and Jinyu took care of him for several days. The child recovered, but she ended up falling ill instead. She still hasn’t fully recovered.”

Jing Sihan was about to call for a servant when his father, without even looking up from his newspaper, said in a firm voice, “He’s your son. If you won’t take care of him, do you expect us two old folks to do it?”

Jing Sihan pressed his lips into a thin line. After a brief pause, he finally turned and made his way upstairs.

—

At the bedroom door, he raised his hand and knocked lightly.

The laughter inside the room immediately stopped.

The woman sitting by the bed looked up. The smile still lingered on her lips, her eyes and brows carrying a hint of playful charm.

She was wearing a light moon-white silk slip dress—completely unlined. Because she was bending over to play with the child, a large expanse of fair skin was exposed at the front, with even the soft pink at the peaks faintly visible.

Bathed in the golden morning light, she seemed to glow with an unexpectedly gentle beauty.

Jing Sihan’s gaze lingered for a moment before he abruptly frowned and averted his eyes. “What kind of outfit is that?!”

Luo Jinyu finally realized just how little she was wearing. Letting out a small yelp, she instinctively raised her arms to cover herself and glared at him in annoyance. “Have you never heard of ‘avert your gaze from what is improper’?”

Jing Sihan paused, then let out a cold chuckle. “How pretentious.”

Luo Jinyu was speechless. Considering that the original host had basically thrown herself at him in the past, her words probably did sound a little hypocritical to him. She clicked her tongue internally, then grabbed a shawl from the chair and wrapped it around herself, feeling a bit stifled.

Jing Jiayi, however, paid no attention to their exchange. He climbed down from the bed, excitedly running toward Jing Sihan on his short little legs. But just as he was about to reach him, he hesitated and stopped, nervously whispering, “Daddy…”

Jing Sihan lowered his gaze, then finally reached out his hand. “Come here.”

Jing Jiayi’s face lit up as he rushed forward, grabbing onto his father’s hand tightly.

Jing Sihan turned, took a step toward the door, then paused. Without looking back, he ordered in a cold voice, “Get dressed and come downstairs immediately.”