Chapter 29: Obsession

Zhu Jia felt she truly needed to adjust her mindset. Recently, she had become someone even she couldn’t recognize—not only quick to anger but also harboring a constant sense of resentment.

Yes, resentment. After thinking for a long time, Zhu Jia finally found the word that accurately described her current state of mind.

After all, she was in the prime of her life at 22. Her life should have been about embarking on her career after graduation, traveling with her girlfriends, and maybe even experiencing the thrill of romance with someone she fancied.

But she had skipped all of that, jumping straight into motherhood. Day after day, she found herself trapped in sleepless nights of nursing and dealing with the endless cycle of diapers. She had lost much of her personal space, and even her beloved dresses now hung idly in her closet.

If Xiao Wen had remained as well-behaved as before, perhaps her resentment wouldn’t be this strong. But every time he acted less than perfect, the delicate string in her heart seemed to snap. A nameless fire constantly simmered within her, its crimson flames flickering through the cracks of her life.

She had to work on managing her emotions. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Zhu Jia reminded herself that maintaining emotional stability would benefit not just herself but also Xiao Wen.

The system’s cold mechanical voice suddenly chimed in:
“Host, you’re absolutely correct. Parents’ emotions directly influence a child’s positive perception of themselves and the world. It also affects their emotional intelligence and social skills. Managing emotions is an essential skill for every parent.”

Zhu Jia nodded in agreement.

Her phone buzzed. It was a WeChat message from Liang Sisi.

Liang Sisi: “Jiajia, I’ll pick you up at five o’clock!”

Zhu Jia: (Received.jpg) (StarryEyes.jpg)

It was Saturday, her long-awaited outing with Liang Sisi. Standing in her walk-in closet, Zhu Jia carefully picked out an outfit. She finally chose a fitted black halter-neck dress and applied makeup in front of the mirror, finishing with a bold red lipstick she hadn’t used in ages.

Staring at herself, Zhu Jia noticed her naturally striking and glamorous features, which she had rarely styled to emphasize. With her classic red lips, she now exuded a hint of sensual allure. Running her fingers through her long hair, she smiled to herself—changing her style occasionally did lift her spirits.

She sprayed a touch of a rose-scented perfume with a sweet yet cool undertone behind her ears and slipped on a pair of black strappy heels that perfectly matched her dress.

Before leaving, she checked on Xiao Wen in the nursery. He was lying on a playmat, engrossed in his toys, while Aunt Liu watched over him.

“Aunt Liu, thank you for watching over Xiao Wen. I’ll be back around nine tonight,” Zhu Jia said with a smile. Since Mo Yichen wasn’t coming home for dinner, Aunt Liu didn’t need to prepare a meal either.

“Don’t worry, Madam. Leave everything to me,” Aunt Liu reassured her warmly.

Zhu Jia nodded and walked downstairs.

At the villa’s gate, a bright yellow Porsche Boxster was parked, with Liang Sisi waving at her from inside.

Zhu Jia’s eyes lit up. It had been so long since she’d seen such an adorable car. All of Mo Yichen’s cars were black.

She got in with a smile. Liang Sisi looked entirely different from her usual mom-mode self, carrying Yuan Yuan in a baby carrier. Today, she wore a chic leather mini-skirt, her sleek brown short hair adding to her cool, stylish vibe.

The two of them looked at each other and shared a knowing smile.

“The movie starts at 6:30. Let’s grab something to eat first,” Liang Sisi said as she drove.

Zhu Jia nodded. During the drive, they chatted endlessly, and Zhu Jia learned that although Liang Sisi was a full-time mom, she also owned a design studio, which she had entrusted to professional management. Occasionally, she would check in on it.

“When Yuan Yuan starts kindergarten, I’ll shift my focus back to work. Right now, I don’t want to miss out on these crucial first three years with her, so I’m temporarily putting my career on hold,” Liang Sisi explained.

Though she called it a compromise, her tone lacked any trace of dissatisfaction or resentment.

“It’s a choice, really. While my career is currently on pause, I’ve gained precious time with my daughter. As long as you weigh the pros and cons, any decision is valid—as long as you won’t regret it later,” she added.

Zhu Jia admired her clarity. Liang Sisi seemed to have found the perfect balance in the tug-of-war between family and career.

In contrast, Zhu Jia felt lost about her own future. Once she earned the 3 million system points and Xiao Wen turned one, her marriage contract with Mo Yichen would expire. What would she do then?

Noticing Zhu Jia’s worried expression, Liang Sisi teased, “Don’t overthink it. You’re still so young. Being a mom doesn’t mean your life ends. You’ll still have plenty of time to do whatever you want—as long as you’re willing.”

Zhu Jia chuckled, “Sisi, you’re amazing.”

Liang Sisi huffed playfully, “Alright, no more heavy topics about family or career today. The theme is fun and relaxation!”

Soon, their bright yellow sports car arrived in the bustling city center. It was the weekend, and the streets were packed with cars and people. After some effort, Liang Sisi skillfully maneuvered the car into a tight parking spot, demonstrating her expert driving skills.

Arm in arm, the two headed to a nearby Japanese restaurant. The movie theater was right next door, so they could enjoy their meal without worrying about being late.

Walking together, they were a stunning sight. Both dressed in black, the long-haired woman exuded sweetness and sensuality, while the short-haired woman radiated cool elegance.

Passersby couldn’t help but steal glances at them. A few young men even tried to impress them, completely unaware that just half an hour ago, these glamorous women were changing diapers for crying babies at home.

The sci-fi movie they were about to watch was wildly popular. Despite its high ticket price, it had sold out nearly every screening since its release.

Zhu Jia and Liang Sisi had booked tickets for an IMAX theater, sitting in the middle, near the back—just the perfect spot for watching a movie. The special effects in the film were spectacular, and Zhu Jia almost forgot to eat the popcorn next to her.

After the two-hour movie ended, Zhu Jia and Liang Sisi were still excited. The thrilling sci-fi film kept their adrenaline levels high.

“How about we head downstairs to the lounge and sit for a bit? It’s still early,” Liang Sisi checked her watch—it was only 8:40 PM.

Zhu Jia nodded, her eyes bright, her complexion flushed, clearly indicating that the night was far from over.

Zhu Jia took a moment to send Liu Yi a message asking about Xiao Wen. Liu Yi replied immediately: “Young master just finished his milk and has fallen asleep.”

Zhu Jia relaxed completely and followed Liang Sisi downstairs to a trendy music lounge by the street.

The bar was dimly lit, with deep brown tables and chairs filling the space. Several bartenders stood by a colorful, glowing liquor cabinet wall, and the air was filled with an enticing fragrance.

Since it was still early, there weren’t many people in the bar, but the resident band was already set up on stage. They were tuning their instruments, preparing for the performance.

“What would you like to drink?” Liang Sisi glanced at the drink menu. “I’ll have a non-alcoholic drink, since I still have to drive.” She gestured to a drink to the server standing nearby. Zhu Jia ordered a cocktail with a low alcohol content.

The drinks arrived quickly. Zhu Jia tried a sweet cocktail with a rich coconut and fruit flavor for the first time. It tasted great, with an extremely low alcohol content, so it didn’t matter if she drank it quickly.

Zhu Jia and Liang Sisi sat leisurely, listening to the band as they chatted casually.

During this time, Liang Sisi’s husband called her on a video call. He was with their child, having just given Yuan Yuan a bath, and called to report in.

Zhu Jia watched the interaction between Liang Sisi and her husband, feeling warmed inside. This was the image of a sweet couple in her mind. Zhu Jia thought to herself, after her divorce from Mo Yichen, she too would find someone gentle and good with children like this.

Another man, with an attractive appearance and silver earrings, came over to chat with them. Zhu Jia furrowed her brows. Though the man was witty, the heavy scent of his cologne and smoke was overwhelming.

They didn’t engage in deep conversation, nor did they exchange contact details—just some light banter to pass the time.

Before they knew it, it was almost 10 PM. Zhu Jia and Liang Sisi had spent enough time there, so they headed home in the yellow sports car.

When Zhu Jia returned home, the house was quiet, with only a lamp left on in the entrance. A pair of men’s leather shoes were neatly placed there. Zhu Jia raised an eyebrow—Mo Yichen had apparently returned.

As she walked further inside, she saw the light in the kitchen flick off, and Liu Yi walked out.

“Madam, you’re back.” Liu Yi, holding a glass of water, looked like she was about to rest.

Zhu Jia nodded. “How’s Xiao Wen? Is he still asleep?”

“After Mr. came back at 9 PM, he asked me to carry Young Master to his room to sleep.”

That was surprising! Zhu Jia was a bit shocked. “Okay, I’ll go upstairs to check on him.”

Zhu Jia quickly climbed the stairs to the third floor. She had lived here for half a year but rarely came up. When she had been on the third floor, it was either to use the gym or to borrow books from Mo Yichen’s study. It seemed she hadn’t entered Mo Yichen’s bedroom yet.

She knocked on the door and waited for a while. There was no response. Just as she was about to knock again, the door opened from the inside.

The room was dimly lit, and Mo Yichen, wearing a black satin nightgown, was holding a sleeping Xiao Wen in his arms. A cold, pine scent wafted from him.

Mo Yichen’s expression was indifferent, and he glanced at Zhu Jia. “Why is he sleeping like that?”

“He cried and woke up, so I held him, and he fell asleep again,” Mo Yichen responded, observing Zhu Jia. “Did you drink?”

“Just a little,” Zhu Jia replied. The blush on her face hadn’t faded, and her eyes were bright, clearly indicating that she wasn’t drunk.

Her eyes curved in a sweet smile as she said, “I’ll go take a shower and come back to take him.” Mo Yichen seemed reliable; he was helpful with the child when needed.

Mo Yichen’s gaze was fixed on Zhu Jia’s exposed, smooth shoulders and her straight legs beneath the short skirt.

Clearly, today she had applied red lipstick, which she had never worn in front of him, and sprayed rose-scented perfume, which she had never used in front of him either. Even the little mole on her delicate nose seemed to radiate charm.

Mo Yichen’s entire body grew colder. Without a word, he turned and walked back into the room with Xiao Wen in his arms.

Zhu Jia: …I was just praising him in my head, and now he’s acting up again?

Zhu Jia bit her lip. “I’ll go downstairs first, and come back up later.” She said, closing the door gently.

The sound of footsteps grew fainter as Mo Yichen sat on the bed with Xiao Wen in his arms, who was peacefully falling asleep.

In the darkness, Mo Yichen’s face was shadowed, his lips pressed tightly together, and his eyes revealed a sinister obsession.

At this moment, holding the child, he seemed like a vampire who had stolen the child in the dark night.

He sat coldly, his mind replaying the scent of not only rose perfume but also a man’s cologne and cigarette smoke on her.

He didn’t ponder why it bothered him, but he felt inexplicably annoyed, his anger simmering, hidden from sight.

His mind was consumed with one thought: he wanted to immediately wipe every inch of her skin, leaving it pink and flushed.

She might beg him with her eyes, but he would wipe away the scent of another man completely.

That hidden obsession, that darkness he had never revealed to anyone, was quietly growing in the pitch-black room.