Chapter 20

On the side, Song Si felt a warmth in her chest and turned to look at Lu Yancheng.

[Ah, isn’t the ideal man of dreams exactly someone like Lu Yancheng? The original host really didn’t know what she had!]

She was still in a daze when she heard the little girl’s aggrieved yet stubborn voice say, “That’s not true! She gave away the bicycle, radio, and watch that Uncle Lu gave her to that annoying Comrade Gu! She even gave him the money Uncle Lu gave her, to buy him new clothes and new leather shoes!”

Wang Fang coughed awkwardly twice.

Zhang Kai, “Zhang Lulu!”

Dani suddenly burst into tears and sobbed, “Daddy is a bad person. He always said Uncle Lu was his best friend and said Comrade Xiao Song went too far, but now he’s changing sides. Adults are so fake.”

Lu Yancheng glanced worriedly at Song Si.

Song Si hadn’t heard a word after that. Her mind was entirely stuck on what the little girl had said earlier.

[What? Too far? The original host actually gave the bicycle, radio, and watch to that shorty Gu Chen?!]

[I remember seeing the prices at the overseas Chinese mall: bicycle 180 yuan, radio 50 yuan, Shanghai brand watch 120 yuan. That’s 350 yuan altogether! That’s nearly half a year’s salary for Lu Yancheng!]

[No way, I have to get them back from that scumbag!]

Lu Yancheng, who had just been about to speak for Song Si, froze when he heard her unusually intense inner voice.

He seemed to realize something.

She was Song Si, and yet not Song Si.

The “original host” must refer to the former version of her?

Then she…

His dark eyes fell on her again, full of mixed emotions.

Dani noticed the change in Lu Yancheng’s expression and looked between him and Song Si.

What’s going on with Comrade Xiao Song? She looks pale!

Is Uncle Lu angry?

The little girl quickly spoke up, “Uncle Lu, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said those things.”

Lu Yancheng snapped back to the present and looked at Dani. “Mm. Don’t speak of Comrade Xiao Song like that again. Otherwise, Uncle Lu will be angry.”

Dani, “Got it.”

She glanced at Song Si, wanting to say something but also feeling a bit indignant.

But… Comrade Xiao Song was really pretty!

After a moment, she timidly asked, “Comrade Xiao Song, could you maybe not do those things anymore? Then I won’t dislike you.”

Song Si came back to her senses, looked at her, and gently patted her little head. “Thank you for the reminder, sweetie. Don’t worry—Comrade Xiao Song will never go crazy again.”

Dani froze, looking up with her big eyes blinking in confusion.

Comrade Xiao Song… didn’t get mad?

Comrade Xiao Song… was sick before?

She frowned, full of concern and guilt. “I’m sorry, Comrade Xiao Song. I didn’t know you were sick.”

…

Zhang Kai and Wang Fang, who had just been stunned by Song Si’s thoughts, finally snapped out of it, took a deep breath, and looked at their daughter, coughing hard.

But their daughter didn’t seem to hear those thoughts?

Could it be they were hallucinating?

The two of them instinctively turned to look at Lu Yancheng.

Lu Yancheng spoke in a low voice, “Sister-in-law, I’ll take Si Si to shower—would that be okay?”

Wang Fang, “Yes, of course!”

Lu Yancheng turned to Song Si, “Go ahead, I’ll wait for you.”

Wang Fang hurriedly chimed in, “Comrade Xiao Song, have a few buns with Little Lu first. You can take a bath after you eat.”

Song Si, “No thanks.”

She looked at Dani again. “It’s okay. You understand now, right?”

Dani nodded.

Song Si softly asked, “If Comrade Xiao Song never talks to that nasty Gu man again, you won’t dislike her anymore, right?”

Dani nodded hard, “Comrade Xiao Song, really? You really won’t talk to that bad guy anymore?”

Song Si, “Of course.”

[Kids in this era seem to love pinky promises, right?]

She held out her fair little finger. “Let’s pinky swear, okay?”

Dani brightened up, extending her cute little pinky and hooking it with hers. “Okay! Pinky swear, hang it high—no takebacks for a hundred years!”

Song Si linked fingers with her and tugged. “If Comrade Xiao Song breaks the promise, may she turn into a silly-looking Pigsy!”

Dani laughed, her eyes curving like little crescents. She leaned forward, her warm little hand holding Song Si’s. A little shy, she said softly, “Comrade Xiao Song, you haven’t had breakfast, right? My mom’s shepherd’s purse buns are really yummy. Let’s eat together!”

Song Si, “…”

[This little girl is so pure… she’s too easy to win over.]

[Why am I suddenly starting to like kids? If Lu Yancheng and I had a daughter, she’d definitely be just as cute and pretty!]

With that thought, she couldn’t help glancing at Lu Yancheng.

Lu Yancheng’s face turned slightly red. He gave a light cough. “Go take your shower. Chief Chen and Aunt Qin are still waiting.”

Song Si, “Okay.”

Hearing that, Wang Fang and Zhang Kai also quickly coaxed their daughter, “Comrade Xiao Song and Uncle Lu have things to do this morning. How about we invite them over for dinner tonight instead?”

Dani turned to Song Si, “Comrade Xiao Song, is that okay?”

Song Si, “Of course, Dani is such a good girl.”

Wang Fang noticed she had brought everything needed for a shower. “Comrade Xiao Song, this way—come with me.”

Song Si followed her to the bathroom.

Wang Fang stepped in with her. “The faucet’s a bit tricky. I’ll help you get the water temperature right first.”

Song Si sweetly replied, “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

Wang Fang smiled, “No need to be polite. Little Lu and my husband are like father and son. Come over anytime, let’s have a good chat.”

Song Si, “Sure thing, sister-in-law.”

Soon, the hot water flowed, and Wang Fang adjusted the pressure. “This level should be good, otherwise it’ll really sting your back. I’ll leave you to it. Just call if you need anything.”

Song Si nodded and watched her leave.

Wang Fang thoughtfully closed the door behind her.

Song Si, “…”

[Why does it feel like his world is full of good people, but mine was full of nothing but toxic ones? Do I have some kind of bad energy around me or what?]

…

Outside the bathroom, Zhang Kai and Wang Fang looked at Lu Yancheng again after hearing that.

Zhang Kai asked in a low voice, “Did you hear anything?”

Lu Yancheng, “Yes. Please, sister-in-law, Deputy Zhang—keep it a secret. I’m asking you sincerely.”

He wrote two characters on the table: “inner voice.”

Zhang Kai and Wang Fang saw it and froze in shock.

This…

On the side, clueless about what they were discussing, Dani frowned. “Dad, Mom, Uncle Lu—what are you all talking about?”

Lu Yancheng also sensed something was off and looked at Dani.

Dani… didn’t seem to hear those inner voices?

Wang Fang came back to herself, looked at her daughter, and remembering Lu Yancheng’s request, kept her voice as low as possible. “Dani, did you hear Comrade Xiao Song say she wants to have a baby with Uncle Lu?”

Dani was totally confused and shook her little head hard. “Uncle Lu, did Comrade Xiao Song say that?”

Lu Yancheng, “…”

Dani really couldn’t hear her inner voice!

He recalled that yesterday in the city, at the supermarket checkout, people nearby didn’t seem to hear her thoughts either.

So then—who can hear them, and who can’t?

Or… when can they be heard?

If only he could figure that out—it would save a lot of trouble!