Chapter 3 Confidence

The dim yellow light in the stairwell faded as they rounded the corner, and Xu Qingying and Zhi Li disappeared from sight.

Cold sweat trickled down Xu Hongli’s forehead. He wanted to chase after them, to grab Xu Qingying’s arm and stop her from sending any lawyers or letting them roam around the neighborhood. But her warning before leaving suddenly echoed in his mind, forcing him to halt abruptly.

“If you keep harassing us—especially Zhi Li—I’ll send thugs to your house immediately to make your lives miserable. Understand?”

After Xu Qingying left, Xu Dong kicked the door violently, his face flushed as he screamed, “Homewrecker! Thief! Homewrecker!!”

“Shut the hell up!” Xu Hongli’s temples throbbed with rage. He swung his arm and slapped Xu Dong hard on the back, shouting, “If you keep yelling nonsense, I’ll smack you across the face!”

Xu Dong, frightened and in pain, collapsed onto the floor, wailing loudly.

Qian Pei shrieked and hit Xu Hongli’s arm. “Why did you hit Dongdong?!”

“Look at how you’ve spoiled him!” Xu Hongli roared furiously. “If he hadn’t stolen from Zhi Li, would any of this have happened?!”

Qian Pei hugged Xu Dong protectively, her expression mocking. “Is this the first time Dongdong’s taken something?! When he tore up her sketchbook before, didn’t Zhi Li come crying to you? Didn’t you call her a troublemaker back then? Why didn’t you discipline your son then?! So what if I pinched that little brat a few times? Could the police really detain us for that? The living expenses and tuition she gave us—it’s not like I can’t pay her back!”

After blurting this out in a fit of anger, Qian Pei’s heart ached as if bleeding. She had been a stay-at-home mother since giving birth to her son. Xu Hongli barely earned twenty thousand a month at his company, and after deducting daily expenses for their family of four, how long would it take them to save up the hundred or two hundred thousand?!

“You—!” Xu Hongli was so furious his vision darkened. He braced himself against the doorframe, pointing at Qian Pei. “Xu Qingying rides in a luxury car worth over four million! She has assistants and a whole legal team—just think about what kind of status her second husband must have! If I can find a way to connect with him, do you think I’d still need to grovel at my company?!”

Qian Pei was stunned. “Is… is he really that powerful?”

Xu Hongli sighed exhaustedly. “Right now, I’m just afraid Xu Qingying will go home and whisper in his ear, making him send someone to make trouble for me at work.”

Hearing this, Qian Pei panicked, forgetting even to hold her son.

Their entire family depended on Xu Hongli’s income. If he were truly capable of finding a high-paying job elsewhere, he wouldn’t have to keep faking smiles at his current company.

Xu Dong cried for a long time, but when Qian Pei didn’t comfort him, he threw a tantrum, shoved her away, and stormed back to his room.

Qian Pei sat dazed on the floor, muttering, “No, it can’t be… The city is so big, there are so many companies—how would they even find him?”

“Nothing will happen,” Xu Xia said calmly, emerging from the bedroom. “My aunt isn’t liked by that family. They wouldn’t go out of their way to trouble Dad just for her—”

**[Buzz buzz buzz.]**

The sudden vibration of a phone interrupted Xu Xia.

A call from the company.

Xu Hongli’s heart pounded violently, his fingers trembling as he answered. “Hello.”

Xu Xia and Qian Pei watched as Xu Hongli’s expression darkened, his back slumping as he forced a laugh. “Misunderstanding—just a family misunderstanding! Old Chen, Old Chen—!”

**[Beep beep beep.]**

The call was abruptly ended.

Qian Pei felt a sense of foreboding. “What happened?”

“Slap!”

Xu Hongli viciously struck Qian Pei across the face, snarling, “What happened?! I got laid off! They told me to come in tomorrow, pack my things, and leave with the severance pay!”

As if he cared about that paltry compensation!

At his age, over forty, when he was just coasting at the company—how could he possibly find another job at the same level?!

“You’ve ruined this family!”

With that, Xu Hongli slammed the door and stormed out.

Xu Xia couldn’t believe it. “How is this possible?! Xu Qingying isn’t even accepted by the wealthy family—how could she—”

“Slap!”

With two red handprints already on her face, Qian Pei slapped Xu Xia as well. The thought of the 200,000 yuan in compensation they owed, the neighbors’ mockery, and their bleak future sent her into a hysterical rage. “Why didn’t you stop your brother when he was picking on Zhi Li?! Do you even have any sense of responsibility as an older sister?! You useless burden!”

With a loud bang, Qian Pei retreated to the bedroom, leaving Xu Xia alone in the living room.

Xu Xia bit her lip until it bled, her eyes fixed hatefully on the floor, her voice thick with resentment from two lifetimes. “Zhi Li!”

Just wait until I find that powerful figure first—I’ll make sure you and Xu Qingying pay back today’s slap tenfold!

——

The night sky was quiet, the bright moon obscured by towering buildings.

The glow from the neon signs of shops on either side of the street flickered into the car. Following the colorful lights, Zhi Li traced the blurry patterns of light on the leather seat beneath her with her fingers.

Zhi Li rarely rode in cars—this was only the second time she could remember.

The last time was when she had clutched her small bag of belongings on the way to her uncle’s house. The backseat had been crammed with three people and some clutter, and Xu Dong had playfully squeezed her against the door, leaving her unable to even move her arms.

This ride was much more comfortable.

The seat was soft, and the driver uncle had even given her sweet candies and cool juice to drink.

Thinking of this, Zhi Li boldly turned her head to look at Xu Qingying, her lips curling into a smile.

Mom is so pretty.

And Mom’s hugs are so warm too.

Zhi Li happily swung her little feet. From now on, she could live in the same house as Mom. With Mom backing her up, she wouldn’t have to be afraid of speaking too much and getting hit anymore. When Grandma came back, they could even take a family photo together!

Zhong Wei had already left, leaving only Xu Qingying and Zhi Li in the backseat.

Xu Qingying was also stealing glances at Zhi Li.

The child’s cheeks were soft and plump, fair and smooth like a peeled hard-boiled egg.

In the original plot, Zhi Li—one month after the original Xu Qingying signed the marriage agreement, which was today—had been beaten and scolded harshly by Qian Pei for pushing Xu Dong, and in the chaos, her face had been cut, leaving a scar.

When the original Xu Qingying returned to the Xu household a week later to pick up Zhi Li, the child had been left with a scar on her face and had become withdrawn and silent.

When Xu Qingying had first read this novel, her primary focus had been on the original character who shared her name, and her secondary focus had been on the pitiable Zhi Li.

So when Xu Qingying transmigrated into the original body—which had collapsed after hitting its head—and sorted through the memories and plot, she immediately rushed to the Xu household with Zhong Wei in tow.

In her past life, Xu Qingying had dated and even had a brief marriage, but she had never considered having children. Early on, she was too busy with work, and later, she feared raising a spoiled brat and worried that having a child would lower her quality of life.

Yet here she was, transmigrated into a book, with a five-year-old child already in tow.

At the Xu household, in the heat of the moment, Xu Qingying had hugged Zhi Li. But now that they were alone, she felt awkward, unsure of how to start a conversation. Maybe she should call her “baby” first to show affection?

Before Xu Qingying could find a topic to discuss, she noticed Zhi Li’s gaze drifting to the car window.

They had arrived at the villa district where the Jiang family lived.

The driver continued along the inner lake, passing several spacious garden villas set far apart.

Zhi Li’s eyes moved from one castle-like villa to another, blinking curiously as she studied the distinctly different stone patterns on their courtyard walls.

Her new father’s home was so big.

Zhi Li hugged her little backpack anxiously.

When she first moved into her uncle’s house, her grandmother had said her mother provided living expenses, so she should speak her mind confidently. But now that her mother lived in this much, much bigger home, how much living expenses would she need to feel just as confident? How hard would she have to work to earn that much money?

“Mom.”

When speaking to someone close, Zhi Li’s voice became soft and sweet, the rising lilt at the end like it was soaked in sweet milk—adorable and sugary.

Xu Qingying’s striking features softened. “What is it?”

Zhi Li rummaged through her little backpack for a while before pulling out a small fabric pouch.

Looking at the pouch, hesitation flickered in her clear, dark eyes. Her small hands tightened and loosened around it before finally extending it toward Xu Qingying. “Mom, for you.”

The child’s hesitant demeanor suggested she was reluctant to part with it.

The pouch was made of beige cotton fabric printed with yellow pears, meticulously stitched into the shape of a pear no bigger than a palm.

It was likely handmade by Zhi Li’s grandmother.

Xu Qingying had this thought as she took the pouch from Zhi Li, examining it closely. “It’s so pretty. You can tell a lot of care went into it. Did Grandma make this for you?”

“Mm!” Zhi Li’s round eyes shimmered like clear glass under the passing streetlights, her dimples appearing as she smiled. “I helped too! I picked the fabric.”

Xu Qingying feigned surprise. “Sweetheart, you have such good taste! You chose such soft, comfortable fabric.”

It was the first time Zhi Li had been called “sweetheart,” and she wasn’t used to such direct praise. Her cheeks flushed pink as she shyly buried her face in her hands, curling up in her seat.

The driver, overhearing their conversation, couldn’t hide his astonishment.

Online rumors weren’t very reliable—the new Mrs. Jiang seemed to genuinely adore her daughter.

Not only had the internet claimed Xu Qingying didn’t care for her child, but even some staff in the villa gossiped that if she truly loved her daughter, she wouldn’t have left her with others after marrying into wealth.

Xu Qingying gazed at Zhi Li’s soft, peach-like cheeks, her fingers itching to pinch them. Finally giving in, she gave one a gentle squeeze.

So soft and squishy—utterly addictive.

Seeing Zhi Li obediently endure the pinching, Xu Qingying couldn’t resist doing it a few more times.

What an irresistibly sweet little peach of a child!

Only when she noticed a faint pink mark on Zhi Li’s cheek did Xu Qingying stop, guilt creeping in. Though she hadn’t used much force, a child’s skin was delicate—best not to overdo it.

“Here.” Xu Qingying handed the pouch back, assuming Zhi Li had just wanted to show it to her.

But Zhi Li pushed it back into Xu Qingying’s lap, looking up with bright eyes. “There’s money inside.”

Surprised, Xu Qingying opened the pouch and found neatly folded bills inside.

One hundred yuan, ten yuan, three five-yuan bills, one one-yuan bill, and six ten-cent coins.  

“This is my saved-up pocket money,” Zhi Li puffed out her little chest proudly. “I exchanged all the coins from my piggy bank with Grandma!”  

Xu Qingying couldn’t guess what Zhi Li was thinking. “Do you want Mommy to keep it for you?”  

Zhi Li shook her head. “This is for Mommy to use.”  

It was the first time Xu Qingying had ever been given pocket money by a child.  

“You keep it. How could Mommy spend your money?”  

“But Mommy works so hard to earn money.” Zhi Li leaned toward Xu Qingying, wrapping her arms around her mother’s arm in a sweet, clingy manner. “Since Mommy lives in such a big house with new Daddy, you must need to earn a lot of money to feel secure. I can share Mommy’s burden by giving you the money I saved.”  

After saying this, Zhi Li lowered her little head, only the tips of her ears turning red, and murmured in a soft voice, “It’s just… the money I saved is too little.”  

The light little pouch in Xu Qingying’s hand suddenly felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.  

In that moment, Xu Qingying understood that Zhi Li’s earlier hesitation in handing over the pouch wasn’t because she was reluctant to part with it—but because she was worried the amount was too small to make much of a difference.  

Gazing at this child she hadn’t known for long, something pricked at her heart, softening it until it sank into a tender, mushy mess.