Breaking the silence was Ji Xuan’s phone ringing. He let go of Ji Yu, took out his phone, and raised an eyebrow in mild surprise as he glanced at her.

Xiao Yu shot him a quick look and asked, “A woman?”

Ji Xuan: “…What’s it to you?”

Xiao Yu smirked. “Nothing! You can answer it here, I don’t mind.”

Ji Xuan: “I do mind.”

Xiao Yu casually turned away and said, “Oh, well, if you mind, just step outside to take it!”

Ji Xuan turned to walk away, but before he could even reach the door, he heard Xiao Yu and Xiao Ruoguang talking behind him.

“Son, let me tell you something. The prettier the woman, the better she is at lying.”

Ji Xuan: “…”

Xiao Yu sighed and continued, “And some people think they’re like Zhang Wu…”

“Xiao Yu.” Ji Xuan interrupted, glancing at Xiao Ruoguang, who was innocently looking up at him. “Don’t teach the kid bad things.”

Xiao Yu feigned innocence. “I’m just teaching my son! I’m practically one foot in the grave here. Can’t I say something thoughtful?”

Ji Xuan gritted his teeth and, right in front of her, answered the phone.

The caller was likely who Xiao Yu had guessed—Yi Lanya, who, as Ji Yu’s math teacher, would be the perfect reason for Ji Xuan to be in touch, especially with Ji Yu skipping class today.

Yi Lanya asked Ji Xuan, “Why didn’t Ji Yu come to school today?”

Ji Xuan replied, “I called her homeroom teacher this morning to ask for leave.”

Yi Lanya’s voice took on a hint of concern. “Is something wrong with Xiaoyu?”

Ji Yu looked at Ji Xuan with her almond-shaped eyes and asked, “Is that Ms. Yi?”

Yi Lanya immediately responded warmly, “Is Xiaoyu there with you? Can I talk to her for a bit?”

Ji Xuan handed the phone to Ji Yu, who took it and greeted, “Hi, Ms. Yi.”

Yi Lanya asked gently, “Why didn’t you come to school today, Xiaoyu? I didn’t see you in class, and I was a little worried.”

Ji Yu glanced at Xiao Yu and said, “We came to see Mom.”

“M-Mom?” Yi Lanya exclaimed in surprise. “Didn’t she and your dad separate?”

Xiao Yu quickly gave a couple of sharp whistles to Ji Yu. Ji Yu turned to look at her, and Xiao Yu raised her brows slightly and said, “Let Mom have a word with your teacher.”

Ji Yu looked at the phone in her hand, then at Xiao Yu, and finally handed the phone to Sister Wang.

Sister Wang held the phone up to Xiao Yu’s ear. In an instant, Xiao Yu’s expression changed—she broke into a cheerful smile and said in a warm, chatty tone, “Hello? Ms. Yi? Oh my, hello there! I’m Ji Yu’s mom! My name’s Xiao Yu, nice to meet you!”

There was a long pause before Yi Lanya finally responded, “Ms… Ms. Xiao…”

Xiao Yu let out a hearty laugh and said, “Oh, don’t call me Ms. Xiao—I’m not that young anymore! Just call me Mrs. Ji!”

Ji Xuan: “…”

This time, Yi Lanya stayed silent even longer. Xiao Yu pretended not to notice and called out, “Teacher? Hello? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“N-no, it’s just… haha… didn’t you two, um, get divorced?”

Xiao Yu chuckled and said, “So what if we did? I’m still Ji Yu’s mom! Who knows—maybe one day Ji Xuan gets in a good mood and decides he wants to marry me again!”

Ji Xuan: “I’m not. I didn’t.”

On the other end, Yi Lanya fell silent again. Xiao Yu raised her voice playfully, “Teacher, why’ve you gone quiet again?”

“I’m just a bit… surprised, that’s all. Sorry—I have to start class now.”

Xiao Yu let out a dramatic “Aiya!” and said, “What’s there to be sorry about? You’re a teacher! Of course you have class. Go on, go on!”

And with that, the call ended. Xiao Yu gave Sister Wang a grin, clearly in a great mood, then turned to Ji Xuan and asked, “So, is Ms. Yi pretty?”

Ji Xuan: “…She’s alright.”

“You’ve got pretty high standards, huh?” Xiao Yu said with a grin.

In the novel, although the side character Ji Yu didn’t get much page time, the important parts of her story were all made clear.

Her father, Ji Xuan. Her stepmother, Yi Lanya. Ji Yu ended up self-destructing, all under the guise of praise and support from Yi Lanya. Of course, as a mother, she was doing it all for her own child. Still, Xiao Yu thought, since she had taken over the original owner’s body, she wouldn’t let these two kids walk the same tragic path.

She knew she wasn’t anyone extraordinary—but at the very least, she could protect these two children and keep Yi Lanya out of their lives. That much, she felt, was the least she could do in return for borrowing someone else’s life.

If only the original owner’s dream hadn’t been to become a concert pianist…

Xiao Yu couldn’t help but complain a little. If the original owner had even a shred of talent for piano, she would’ve been famous by now—after all, her father was a world-renowned pianist.

“Mom, who was that just now?” Xiao Ruoguang climbed up beside Xiao Yu and asked curiously.

Xiao Yu glanced over at Ji Xuan and replied with a smile, “Your sister’s teacher.”

Ji Yu puffed out her little chest and declared loudly, “My teacher is amazing! She buys me candy every day!”

Xiao Ruoguang blinked and asked, “But doesn’t candy rot your teeth?”

Ji Yu deflated a bit but stomped her foot and pressed on, “My teacher is amazing! She takes me out to play every day!”

Xiao Ruoguang tilted his head innocently. “But… isn’t she supposed to be teaching you?”

Ji Yu’s chest deflated a little more. She shot him a glare and said, “She helps me with my homework every day!”

Xiao Ruoguang looked even more confused. “Isn’t that what teachers are supposed to do?”

Ji Yu: “…”

She gave Ruoguang two tearful glances, lips trembling, then turned to Ji Xuan with glossy eyes and sniffled, “Daddy, this little brother is mean. I don’t like him.”

Ji Xuan: “…”

Xiao Ruoguang lowered his head sadly. “I’m sorry.”

Ji Xuan: “…”

Xiao Yu turned to Ji Yu and asked, “Oh~? Then what kind of little brother do you like?”

Ji Yu glanced at Xiao Ruoguang and said, “One who’s well-behaved and listens to me.”

Xiao Yu nodded thoughtfully. Xiao Ruoguang’s shoulders drooped even more. He didn’t even say sorry again. He simply turned away from everyone, curled himself into a small ball, and sat quietly with his back to the group. You could practically see the gloomy aura rising off of him.

Ji Xuan felt a pang of sympathy, and even Ji Yu looked a little guilty. She hesitated, then mumbled toward his back, “Xiaoguang is actually… kind of nice too.”

Xiao Ruoguang didn’t turn around. He just tilted his head slightly to glance at Ji Yu and Ji Xuan, his eyes dull and filled with sorrow. In a soft, forlorn voice, he said, “No, I’m not. I’m not a good kid.”

After saying that, he turned back around, retreating once more into his little bubble of gloom.

Ji Yu felt even more guilty. “You’re not bad… You’re actually really good.” But when Xiao Ruoguang didn’t even react this time, she panicked. “You’re really good! Xiaoguang is very good! Daddy, Daddy—tell him! Isn’t Xiaoguang a good boy?”

She tugged anxiously at Ji Xuan’s pant leg. Ji Xuan gave Xiao Ruoguang a warm, coaxing smile and said, “Xiaoguang is such a good boy—so thoughtful and caring. He takes such good care of Mommy and always lets his sister have her way. He’s one of the sweetest kids I’ve ever met.”

Xiao Ruoguang turned his head slightly to look at them and asked softly, “Really?”

Father and daughter both nodded furiously in sync, as if afraid he might crumble if they didn’t reassure him fast enough.

The next second, Xiao Ruoguang turned around and flashed them a brilliant smile. “Thank you, Ungrateful Dad and…” He paused—what was his sister’s name again? Oh well, she’s the daughter of the Ungrateful Dad, so… “Thank you, Ungrateful Big Sister!”

Ji Xuan: “…”

Ji Yu: “…”

=^_^=