Chapter 1 Mom

Zhi Li finished mopping the living room floor.

She slowly sat down, clenching her small fists to massage her sore, numb legs from squatting too long.

The fading sunset glow reflected on the calendar hanging on the wall, the light gradually overlapping with the numbers.

Tilting her little head up at the calendar, Zhi Li silently counted in her heart: 1, 2, 3—

8 days.

Plus 18 days in May and 30 days in June—it had already been 56 days since she last saw Grandma.

Grandma said she was going somewhere very far away and told Zhi Li to wait obediently at home. But home had already been sold by Uncle…

Zhi Li clutched the rag tightly in her hand, her eyes reddening like a little rabbit’s.

Grandma, I’m living at Uncle’s house now. Remember to come find me here.

“Mom! Isn’t dinner ready yet?!”

Her cousin Xu Dong, lying on the sofa playing with his tablet, shouted loudly, “Can you hurry up? I’m starving!”

Zhi Li heard the sound of spatula stirring from the kitchen and Auntie’s reply, “Almost done, stop rushing me. Have some snacks first—aren’t there cookies in the coffee table?”

Xu Dong dug out the remaining packets of loose cookies. Spotting Zhi Li looking at him, he immediately glared back fiercely, “These are cookies Mom bought for me!”

He tore open a packet with his teeth, tilting his head back to pour the cookies into his mouth. After finishing, he smugly glanced back at Zhi Li.

Cookie crumbs kept falling onto the freshly mopped floor, accumulating more and more.

Qian Pei had just stepped out of the kitchen when she noticed the glaring cookie crumbs on the floor. Seeing Zhi Li sitting there, she scolded sharply, “Zhi Li, can’t you see there’s work to do?! Your little brother is too young to know better—can’t you help clean up? Wipe the floor again! Then come serve the rice.”

Xu Dong stuck his tongue out at Zhi Li, grinning. “Lazy pig!”

Zhi Li paused mid-step. Looking at Xu Dong’s chubby cheeks and bulging belly, she couldn’t help but correct him, “You look more like the pigs on TV.”

Xu Dong’s eyes widened. Stomping his short, stubby legs off the sofa, he yelled angrily, “You’re calling me names?!”

Zhi Li blinked in confusion. “Grandma told me not to curse. I never curse.”

“…” Though Xu Dong was a month younger than Zhi Li, spending all day on his tablet had taught him enough swear words to fill a basket.

He instinctively thought to himself: You’re cursing at something that’s not even human.

“!!!” Xu Dong jumped up and down in rage. “You said I look like a pig!”

Still confused, Zhi Li hesitated before amending, “The pig looks like you?”

After saying this, she quickly scurried toward the kitchen, afraid Xu Dong would accuse her of insulting pigs again—though she remained genuinely puzzled.

Yesterday on TV, an old lady had said her family was raising a little piglet grandson. Since her cousin was even chubbier and paler than that grandson, shouldn’t he at least qualify as a medium-sized piglet?

Xu Dong’s furious shouts echoed from the living room, “You’re the pig! Pig pig pig!”

So “pig” counted as cursing?

Zhi Li frowned worriedly. When Grandma had taught her words, she never mentioned “pig” being a bad word. Would her cousin complain to Grandma when she returned?

Despite her concerns, Zhi Li efficiently served the rice, scooping it from the rice cooker into white porcelain bowls with the rice paddle. She filled one bowl and set it aside before starting on the next.

Qian Pei barely registered her son’s yelling from the living room. Ever since last year when Zhi Li exposed him for stealing from the old lady—forcing Qian Pei to scold him half-heartedly in front of relatives—her son had hated Zhi Li.

Not that it mattered. Zhi Li was just an unwanted burden anyway—if her son wanted to yell at her, so be it.

“Your uncle is working late tonight and won’t be back for dinner, so just serve four bowls.”

“Okay.”

As Qian Pei scooped food onto plates, she glanced at Zhi Li’s delicate, doll-like face and curled her lips in disdain.

Her sister-in-law might have questionable character, but her child sure knew how to inherit good looks. Still, Qian Pei would rather the kid were uglier—at least then visitors wouldn’t gush over Zhi Li while only offering half-hearted compliments about her own son Dongdong, saying he looked “fortunate.” Wasn’t that just a polite way of calling him fat?!

“Zhi Li, you need to learn to be more diligent, understand?” Qian Pei adopted a lecturing tone, speaking with the gravity of an elder. “You’re already slow—even kindergarten wouldn’t take you. If you don’t learn to help out, people will say you’re an annoying, spoiled brat!”

*I’m not a brat.*

Zhi Li listened silently but rebutted in her heart.

Picking up two bowls of rice to carry out, her gaze inadvertently landed on the plate of sweet and sour ribs in Qian Pei’s hands. The color was redder than the ones Grandma used to make—would they taste just as tender and soft?

“There aren’t many ribs to go around. Maybe next time.” Qian Pei’s tone was indifferent. “The money your mother sends doesn’t even cover half your expenses. We can’t afford to let you eat meat.”

It wasn’t that she begrudged the child a bite of meat, but the thought of her sister-in-law—who’d always made her swallow her grievances—put her in a foul mood, and Zhi Li only irritated her further.

Zhi Li pressed her lips together, mustered her courage, and looked up. “Grandma always says the money Mom sends is enough.” Even if it meant getting spanked, she had to tell her aunt that Grandma wasn’t wrong.

“Grandma says, Grandma says—that’s all you ever talk about!”

Qian Pei stared into Zhi Li’s clear, bright almond-shaped eyes and felt an inexplicable twinge of guilt. But the guilt quickly gave way to anger, and her voice rose sharply. “Did your grandma also say your mom loves you? That she doesn’t hate you? If she didn’t hate you, why hasn’t she come back to get you?! Why doesn’t she let your grandma take you out?! Why did she dump you on someone else to raise?! She probably wouldn’t even recognize you if she saw you on the street!”

Zhi Li flinched at the shouting, but since her aunt didn’t believe Grandma, she rebutted, her little face pale. “Grandma says Mom is working hard outside to earn money to… to take care of me. She doesn’t want me to suffer with her.”

At this, Zhi Li lowered her head, blinking hard to keep the tears from falling.

She wanted to tell Grandma and Mom that she wasn’t afraid of suffering.

She didn’t want to stay at Uncle’s house anymore. Uncle said she was ungrateful, Aunt called her a brat, and her cousin Dongdong kept tearing up the sketchbooks Grandma bought her, saying he’d kick her out. None of them liked her.

Though she’d never spent time with her mom growing up, she’d seen her on TV—so beautiful, more beautiful than any other mom in the neighborhood.

“Mom doesn’t hate me,” Zhi Li murmured, her soft voice trembling with tears. “Grandma says Mom loves me… loves me so much.” Grandma couldn’t be wrong. Mom wouldn’t hate her.

Seeing Zhi Li on the verge of crying, Qian Pei cursed inwardly. Just like her mother, Xu Qingying—even their crying was the same, as if someone had wronged them terribly.

If it weren’t for Xu Qingying’s generous living expenses, she’d have kicked this burden out long ago.

Qian Pei turned away, unwilling to deal with it. “Take the rice out.”

Soon, the food was laid out on the table, and Xu Xia, her niece who’d been in the bedroom, finally came out.

Xu Xia had just started high school, with delicate and pretty features. When she saw Zhi Li, she didn’t smile, her expression cold as she sat down on the chair beside her.

After climbing onto her own chair, Zhi Li rubbed her tired eyes and stole a glance at Xu Xia.

A couple of days ago, Zhi Li had overheard her cousin telling a visiting classmate that she didn’t like her, saying it was troublesome sharing a bedroom with her.

Zhi Li also felt like she was a burden staying in her cousin’s room. She couldn’t help but count the pocket money she had saved up, wondering if it would be enough to ask her uncle to buy another bedroom.

Hmm.

She was small—maybe she didn’t need a whole one. Half a bedroom… or even a quarter would be enough to sleep in.

Xu Xia looked at the five-year-old Zhi Li beside her, but what flashed before her eyes was the luxury car Zhi Li had left in during her past life.

It had looked completely out of place among the old residential buildings, and the Zhi Li sitting inside had seemed like she belonged to another world.

Perhaps the memory was too vivid—even after over a decade spanning two lifetimes, Xu Xia still remembered that day clearly.

One more week.

Xu Xia lowered her eyes. In one more week, Xu Qingying would come to take Zhi Li away, marrying into a wealthy family with her in tow.

Remembering that luxury car, Xu Xia suppressed the irritation in her heart and turned to Zhi Li with a smile. “The living room floor is spotless—thanks for your hard work, Li Li.” Even if Zhi Li wouldn’t stay in that wealthy family for long, Xu Xia could still find a way to benefit from her. Little Zhi Li was much easier to fool than the high school version from her past life. For now, she had to keep Zhi Li close.

Seeing Xu Xia’s smile, Zhi Li froze for a moment before hurriedly shaking her head. “It wasn’t hard.”

Strange.

Didn’t Cousin say she didn’t like me? Why is she smiling at me?

“No need to wait for your dad today,” Qian Pei said, pushing the sweet and sour pork ribs toward Xu Dong and hanging her apron aside. “Let’s eat first.”

Xu Dong, still clumsy with chopsticks, grabbed a rib with his hands, his mouth soon glistening with grease.

Zhi Li quietly picked at the stir-fried celery closest to her.

Still didn’t taste good.

She silently took a big bite of rice.

She hated celery—except for celery dumplings.

Aside from the sweet and sour ribs and stir-fried celery, there was also a plate of spicy and sour shredded potatoes on the table.

The potatoes were a bit too far away. After hesitating, Zhi Li reached for the celery again.

She could endure eating things she disliked.

Xu Dong, happily munching on ribs, suddenly noticed Zhi Li eating nothing but celery and assumed she loved it.

Remembering how Zhi Li had called him a pig before dinner, he spitefully raised his stainless steel spoon and smacked it hard against the back of her hand.

*Smack!*

Zhi Li’s skin was already fair, and the red mark left by the spoon stood out starkly.

“This is the celery my mom made for me!” Xu Dong snapped. “If you eat it all, what’ll I have? Freeloading off us every day!”

Zhi Li had always been sensitive to pain. The sting spread across her hand belatedly, sharp and throbbing.

Her eyes welled up with tears, but she stubbornly held them back, insisting, “I’m not freeloading. Grandma said my mom gave money.”

Xu Dong banged his spoon loudly against the table. “You are! Freeloader! Freeloader! Freeloader!”

Zhi Li clenched her small fists, refusing to back down. “I’m not! Grandma said—”

“Enough! Stop bringing up Grandma all the time, it’s so annoying!” Qian Pei worried that Zhi Li might accidentally mention the living expenses in front of outsiders later, so she irritably swapped the sour and spicy shredded potatoes with the stir-fried celery. “Your brother rarely likes vegetables. As his older sister, you should let him have the celery and eat the potatoes instead.”

Xu Dong felt victorious and grinned widely.

What nonsense about giving money? He often heard his parents telling others on the phone that Zhi Li was freeloading at home.

Seeing the sour and spicy shredded potatoes placed in front of her, Zhi Li blinked back the tears welling in her eyes—no need to eat celery after all!

Xu Xia silently observed the squabble between her brother and Zhi Li. Watching Zhi Li lose and pitifully nibble on the potatoes, she reached for a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs. As expected, Xu Dong glared at her angrily.

However, just as Xu Xia was about to place the pork rib in Zhi Li’s bowl, memories of the chaotic life in her past and Zhi Li’s seemingly bright future flashed through her mind. Emotions churned in her eyes, and she redirected her chopsticks, placing the rib into her own bowl instead.

Zhi Li had always been unwanted in this household. A simple smile from her was more than enough to make Zhi Li grateful.

Halfway through the meal, the doorbell rang.

Qian Pei got up to answer it and soon returned with an opened box.

Xu Dong stretched out his greasy hands, eager to rummage through it. “Mom, what’s inside?”

“A Family Portrait Ceramic Figurine,” Qian Pei replied, pulling out the colorful clay figurines shaped like chibi characters. She held up the base with one hand and pointed at the chubby little figure in the center. “Cute, isn’t it?”

Xu Dong was unimpressed. “I prefer Transformers.”

Zhi Li slowed her eating, staring intently at the Q-version ceramic figurine in Qian Pei’s hand.

The little toy, resembling something molded from playdough, featured four figures. The chubby one in the middle was slightly thinner than her cousin.

Noticing Zhi Li’s gaze, Qian Pei deliberately teased, “Zhi Li, you’ve never taken a family portrait before, have you?”

Finishing the last bite of rice in her bowl, Zhi Li asked softly, “What’s a family portrait?”

“…” Qian Pei faltered. “A family portrait is a photo taken together—with a father, a mother, and their children.”

Xu Xia noticed Xu Dong opening his mouth to say something and quickly cut in, “Zhi Li, are you done eating? If so, go back to your room.”

Zhi Li nodded, hopped off her chair, and scampered back to her room.

Watching the bedroom door close behind Zhi Li, Xu Xia sighed in relief.

It wasn’t that she feared Xu Dong mocking Zhi Li—she was more concerned that Zhi Li might resent her, Xu Dong’s biological sister, as a result.

“Why did you let Zhi Li leave?” Xu Dong grumbled. “When is she finally going to leave? I don’t like her! Why can’t she just live with her own parents?”

Qian Pei snapped a few photos of the figurine to post on social media. Recalling the gossip she’d seen online, she sneered. “Her mother barely managed to snag someone else’s husband. She wouldn’t dare bring a burden like Zhi Li back with her.” She wondered if Xu Qingying could increase the living expenses—her husband had been eyeing a new car lately.

Xu Xia frowned. “Mom, don’t say things like that in front of Dongdong.”

Qian Pei waved her off dismissively. “He’s just a kid. He wouldn’t understand anyway.”

Xu Dong huffed.

Of course he understood! A mistress was just a bad person who stole other people’s daddies. The neighbor Dahe’s dad had been stolen by one, and Dahe’s mom had been cursing about it nonstop lately.

As Zhi Li returned to her room, her mind lingered on the idea of a family portrait.

Does a family portrait only count with a dad, a mom, and a child?  

Zhi Li tilted her fluffy little head, the unevenly tied pigtails swaying slightly. After a long pause, she scratched her head in frustration. “But what if I only have Grandma and Mom?”  

After sitting for a few minutes, Zhi Li suddenly dashed to a small cardboard box of clothes in the corner, diving headfirst inside. She rummaged around, her little bottom sticking out, before finally emerging with messy hair, clutching a small jar in her hand.  

The jar was filled with dried fruits she and her grandmother had made together.  

Grandma had said this was a “memory jar”—every time she ate a piece, she could say something to Grandma, and Grandma would hear it all.  

Zhi Li picked out a crispy banana slice, chewed, and swallowed it. Holding the jar tightly, she asked with hopeful yet nervous anticipation, “Grandma, when you come back, can we take a family portrait with Mom?”  

“What are you sneaking?!” Before the words fully left her mouth, a figure charged at her like a firecracker, reaching out to snatch the jar from Zhi Li’s hands.  

The moment Zhi Li saw Xu Dong, she remembered the sketchbook he had torn before. Terrified, she clung to the jar with all her might, refusing to let go. “This is from Grandma!” she shouted.  

“Why should Grandma only give things to you?!” Xu Dong gripped the jar tightly, his face red with effort as he tried to yank it away. “This must be for me! Your mom stole someone else’s dad, and now you’re stealing my candy!”  

He even lowered his head, trying to bite Zhi Li’s hand.  

Zhi Li was already furious at Xu Dong for badmouthing her mom. Seeing him try to bite her, she instinctively mustered all her strength and shoved him away.  

**Thud!**  

Xu Dong hadn’t expected Zhi Li to be so strong. Caught off guard, his small body toppled backward, his elbow slamming against the sharp corner of a table. Blood instantly welled up.  

The bright red blood and searing pain overwhelmed Xu Dong. He stared at Zhi Li in shock for a few seconds before bursting into loud, wailing sobs.  

Zhi Li hid the jar behind her back, watching Xu Dong bawl on the floor, unsure what to do.  

Qian Pei rushed over at the noise. The moment she saw her son on the ground with blood gushing from his elbow, her legs nearly gave out. The next second, fury exploded through her. “Zhi Li!”  

Zhi Li paled under Qian Pei’s fiery glare. But even then, while Qian Pei was busy bandaging Xu Dong, she tremblingly hid the jar back at the very bottom of the box.  

A few minutes later, Xu Xia, who had been about to step out of the bathroom, paused when she saw Qian Pei dragging Zhi Li into the living room and raising her arm to strike her harshly.  

Xu Xia hesitated, then retreated.  

If she intervened now, her mom might hit her too. Besides, unless Zhi Li suffered a little, how else would her own “help” later seem so noble?  

——  

In the hallway, Xu Hongli stole glances at his phone in his pocket as he climbed the stairs, growing more frantic by the second. Qian Pei still hadn’t replied to his message.  

Why wasn’t she answering?  

If she didn’t reply soon, he’d have to bring the guests home!  

Xu Qingying glanced at him, her lips curling in a faint smirk. “Busy with work?”  

“N-No, not busy.” Xu Hongli forced a smile, silently praying that Qian Pei wouldn’t order Zhi Li around like she usually did.

Xu Hongli had originally planned to drink with clients but got stood up. Fuming, he returned home only to spot a luxury car parked downstairs—the same model he’d discussed with colleagues a few days ago, priced at over 4 million!  

Before he could snap a photo to show off to his friends, he gaped in shock as his long-unseen younger sister, Xu Qingying, stepped out of the car. Under the flickering streetlight, her stunning profile looked strangely unfamiliar.  

Xu Hongli quickly plastered on a smile and hurried over.  

Truthfully, he didn’t like this sister of his. As a celebrity, she earned at least eight figures a year, yet she couldn’t even lend him a few million to buy a high-end home.  

If it weren’t for their late grandmother keeping him in check, he would’ve exposed Xu Qingying’s heartless behavior to the media, dragging her already rock-bottom reputation through the mud.  

Now that the old lady was gone, he eyed Xu Qingying’s expensive outfit and her completely transformed demeanor, then glanced at the silent assistant trailing behind her. His scheming thoughts resurfaced.  

Xu Qingying must’ve really become some tycoon’s mistress and climbed her way up, just as the tabloids claimed. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so generous with her financial support—clearly trying to buy peace with money.  

In that case, wasn’t it only fair for her to give her own brother a little more? If his business succeeded, he could keep supporting Zhi Li and prevent her from causing Xu Qingying any trouble.  

Thinking of Zhi Li, Xu Hongli recalled his wife’s unanswered messages. As they reached the final flight of stairs, he steeled himself and asked, “Qingying, did you come to see Zhi Li?”  

“Yes.”  

Xu Hongli had just sighed in relief when Xu Qingying’s next words nearly made him trip and faceplant on the stairs. He whipped his head around. “W-What did you say?!”  

“I said—” Xu Qingying stepped up onto the landing, casting him a cold sidelong glance, “I’m taking Zhi Li with me.”  

Taking her?  

Taking Zhi Li away?  

If you take her, where’s my monthly allowance?!  

Before Xu Hongli could press further, they arrived at their familiar front door. He rushed ahead, fumbling for his keys, hoping desperately that Zhi Li wasn’t mopping the floor in the living room right now.  

*Click.*  

The door unlocked, and the harsh fluorescent light spilled into the hallway.  

The next second, a child’s wails and a shrill scream erupted simultaneously.  

“You little brat, born to a mother who abandoned you! How dare you hit Dongdong?! I’ll beat you to death!”  

Xu Hongli froze in the doorway.  

Xu Qingying’s expression darkened. She shoved past him and stormed inside.  

In the living room, Qian Pei was viciously yanking the arm of a four- or five-year-old girl, her right hand raised high, ready to strike the child across the face.  

*SMACK!*  

A sharp, crisp slap rang out, and the screaming abruptly stopped.  

Tear-streaked and bewildered, Zhi Li stared as her aunt was knocked to the ground by the slap. And the beautiful woman now standing before her—  

Looked exactly like the mother she’d seen on TV.