She stood up gracefully, maintaining her elegant demeanor. “Thank you, Ms. Zhou, for bringing Yangyang back. If there’s nothing else, you can go now.”

Zhou Liwen shook her head. “I can’t leave Yangyang here alone.”

What does that mean? Cheng Yu was surprised and saw Zhou Liwen leaning down to coax Yangyang.

“Yangyang, Mom is fine, you see? How about Auntie takes you to Dad’s office?”

Yangyang, hearing this, looked at Cheng Yu with his dark eyes, seeming to want to stay but also hesitant.

Cheng Yu stepped forward and smiled at Zhou Liwen. “Ms. Zhou, actually, I’m feeling much better now and can take care of Yangyang myself!”

Zhou Liwen’s beautiful eyes flashed, and Cheng Yu clearly saw the mockery in them.

“Yangyang, do you want to stay?” Zhou Liwen deliberately asked Yangyang.

Yangyang’s eyes flickered, struggling for a few seconds before nodding slightly and saying softly, “Yes.”

This was not the answer Zhou Liwen wanted to hear, and her expression changed. Cheng Yu was about to speak, but Zhou Liwen quickly said, “I need to call Lingyun first.”

Cheng Yu held back her anger. “I am Yangyang’s mother. Do I need your permission to keep him at home?”

Zhou Liwen ignored her, took out her phone, and walked to the side to make a call, still holding Yangyang’s hand as if afraid that if she let go, Cheng Yu would harm the child.

Cheng Yu bit her lip in frustration, listening to Zhou Liwen talking to Du Lingyun on the phone. She couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but the soft tone seemed to have a hint of flirtation.

“Lingyun, it’s Liwen.”

She called him “Lingyun,” so they must be close. It seemed she was not just an ordinary nanny.

“…Yes, yes, okay then.” Du Lingyun obviously agreed to let Yangyang stay at home. Zhou Liwen hung up the phone with a reluctant expression.

Cheng Yu secretly clenched her fist.

Zhou Liwen glanced at her, then crouched down and hugged Yangyang with a gentle smile. “Yangyang, Auntie is leaving now! If the weather is good tomorrow, Auntie will take you to the park for a picnic, okay? You said last time that Dad really liked the castle you built. Auntie will teach you how to make something Dad will like even more.”

“Okay, Auntie will teach me.” Yangyang nodded excitedly.

“Good boy, Auntie will give you a kiss!” Zhou Liwen said, kissing Yangyang on the cheek. “You’re so cute, Auntie and Dad both love you so much!”

Is this a show of power?

Cheng Yu was almost amused by the absurdity. She was sure this woman had feelings for Du Lingyun.

That man! She thought he was so honest, but it turned out he had a complicated love life.

Zhou Liwen finished hugging Yangyang and stood up to face Cheng Yu. The two women exchanged polite, fake smiles.

Cheng Yu saw her out, and as she was about to leave, Zhou Liwen turned around with a sharp and mocking look in her eyes.

“You’re not good enough for Lingyun, and you’re not fit to be Yangyang’s mother.”

After dropping this ambiguous remark, Zhou Liwen left.

So she considers herself a rival! Cheng Yu shrugged, not wanting to bother with this strange woman. She turned around and went back to the living room. Yangyang was standing nervously by the table, his little feet tracing circles on the floor.

Cheng Yu finally had the chance to hug him openly. She crouched down and pulled the child into her arms, kissing his little face several times. “Yangyang, Mom loves you so much.”

“Mom?” Yangyang was stunned, as if he had never experienced such affection from his mother before.

Cheng Yu felt the child’s panic and held his little face in her hands, looking at him seriously. “Yangyang, don’t be afraid of Mom from now on. Mom will be good to you, okay?”

Yangyang blinked his long eyelashes, his eyes shining brighter and brighter with joy. “Okay!”

“Good boy.” Cheng Yu kissed the child again and took his little hand. “Yangyang, are you hungry? Mom will make you something to eat, or do you want to take a bath first?”

Yangyang thought for a moment. “Bath first, then eat.”

“Okay, Mom will run the hot water for your bath.”

“Will Mom help me bathe?” Yangyang asked softly.

“Yes, Mom will help you bathe.”

Yangyang fell silent, his previously bright eyes suddenly dimming, and his little face turned pale.

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Yu asked with concern. “Yangyang, are you feeling unwell?”

Yangyang shook his head but didn’t answer, his little face turning even paler, and his little hand gripping Cheng Yu’s tightly, almost hurting her.

She could feel the child’s fear and softened her voice even more. “Yangyang, do you not want to take a bath? Then we won’t bathe for now, okay?”

Yangyang bit his lip and finally said softly after a while, “Yangyang wants to bathe… Mom will help me bathe.”

Although he said that, Yangyang kept his head down, not daring to look at Cheng Yu.

Cheng Yu was puzzled, her eyebrows furrowing, until she entered the bathroom, filled the tub with hot water, and began to undress Yangyang. Only then did she realize—

The child’s body had several green and purple bruises!

Although some of the marks had faded and were not very visible, it was clear that he had been abused and injured.

How could someone bear to harm such a small and well-behaved child?

Cheng Yu’s heart churned, and her voice trembled. “Yangyang, how did you get these marks? Who… who did this to you?”

Yangyang lowered his eyes, his little hands twisting together, refusing to say a word.

But he didn’t need to say anything. Cheng Yu could guess the answer, and her heart sank—