Yi Lanya bit into a piece of stir-fried greens with teary eyes. It was the mildest dish on the table—but only relatively speaking. For her, it was still way too spicy.

What surprised her even more was that Xiao Yu couldn’t handle spicy food either.

So now, everyone at the table sat silently, watching the two women with watery eyes and flushed faces force down their food. The scene was… speechless, to say the least.

Kong Yuqing, watching from the side, was stunned. Madam can’t eat spicy food either? She hadn’t expected Madam to go so far—sacrificing herself just so Yi Lanya would be forced to eat chili.

Xiao Yu’s expression remained calm, but inside she was cursing up a storm. The original body can’t eat spicy food?! If it weren’t for her own lifelong love of spicy dishes, she’d probably be writhing in pain by now.

Sitting beside her, Ji Xuan watched as she smiled through tears, chewing on a slice of spicy meat. He took a glass of iced water from a servant and handed it to her. “If it’s too much, you don’t have to keep eating.”

Xiao Yu shot him a glance. “Who says I can’t? Give me another glass—I can finish two more bowls.”

She grabbed the water and took a long gulp before picking up her chopsticks again and fishing out another piece of spicy boiled pork slices. Serves me right for asking them to make it extra hot. I basically shot myself in the foot.

She cast a quick glance at Yi Lanya, then lowered her head and kept eating.

Yi Lanya shuddered. Was that paralyzed woman trying to provoke me just now? Did she really just challenge me?!

So, the whole table watched in stunned silence as two people who couldn’t handle spicy food kept their heads down, stubbornly wolfing it down—while those who could eat spicy food had no choice but to take small, careful bites.

Xiao Ruoguang and Ji Yu had their own milder meals, but seeing their mom’s lips swollen and red, Xiao Ruoguang’s heart ached.

“Mom, eat my noodles instead,” he said, pushing his bowl toward her. “You never eat spicy food.”

Xiao Yu quickly waved her hands. “No, I messed this up—how could I let Miss Yi eat spicy food all on her own?”

Yi Lanya was about to suggest: Why not just cook another bowl of noodles? But before she could speak, Xiao Yu said, “There are only two bowls left—let the kids have them. If I eat one, what will they eat? Are we really going to trouble Uncle Zheng to cook again? That wouldn’t be right, would it?”

Yi Lanya clamped her mouth shut.

At first, Xiao Yu struggled with the spiciness, but slowly, she began to adjust. By the second half of the meal, she was eating with gusto, even enjoying it.

After dinner, Yi Lanya sat on the couch, her face flushed from the spice, fuming in silence. Ji Xuan carried Xiao Ruoguang over and joined her in the living room, asking the boy about school.

Ji Yu ran over to Yi Lanya and asked cheerfully, “Teacher, are you coming to tutor me tomorrow?”

Yi Lanya forced a smile and nodded. Xiao Yu happened to pass by and overheard. “Thank you for your hard work,” she said sweetly.

Yi Lanya gritted her teeth. “It’s no trouble.”

Xiao Yu then motioned for Aunt Wang to wheel her over to Ji Xuan. He gave her a quick glance before turning back to talk with Xiao Ruoguang.

“Ji Xuan, hold me for a moment,” Xiao Yu said without hesitation, looking directly at him.

Ji Xuan didn’t refuse. He easily lifted Xiao Yu and placed her gently on the sofa. Xiao Yu leaned against him and began chatting with Xiao Ruoguang. Seeing this, Ji Yu hurried over and tried to squeeze onto Xiao Yu’s lap as well.

Ji Xuan frowned and gently picked Ji Yu up, placing her beside Xiao Ruoguang. “Mom’s legs aren’t feeling well. Don’t sit on them, okay?” he explained.

Ji Yu pouted. “Then when can Mommy hold me?”

Xiao Yu smiled warmly. “Xiao Yu, come here. Mommy can hold you now.”

Ji Yu blinked in surprise, then let out an excited squeal and climbed onto Ji Xuan’s lap, launching herself into Xiao Yu’s arms.

Ji Xuan barely had time to react—his daughter had already thrown herself from his arms into his ex-wife’s embrace.

Ji Xuan: “…”

“Mommy!” Ji Yu wrapped her arms tightly around Xiao Yu’s neck. She looked up, and when she saw that her mother didn’t seem to be struggling, she happily nuzzled her cheek against her.

Off to the side, Xiao Ruoguang watched with wide eyes, his face full of envy. Ji Xuan quickly picked him up again and asked gently, “What’s wrong, Xiaoguang?”

“I want Mommy to hold me too,” Xiao Ruoguang said, his eyes full of longing.

Xiao Yu immediately reached out her arms and said, “Come here, sweetheart. Mommy’s got you.”

Xiao Yu held both Xiao Ruoguang and Ji Yu close, snuggling against Ji Xuan with a look that said: How did I get so lucky? This is just too dazzling to handle.

Across from them, Yi Lanya gritted her teeth so hard it felt like she might break them, but forced a cheerful smile.

Xiao Yu glanced at Yi Lanya, still holding the two children, and said, “Teacher, sorry you had to see the kids so clingy like this.”

Yi Lanya smiled softly. “It’s okay. Kids are always like that—there’s no child who doesn’t love their mother.”

Xiao Yu gave a helpless smile. “I think so too.”

Resting her head against Ji Xuan, she sighed, “Well, I’m just lucky. My husband loves me, the kids love me—even if I’m paralyzed and may never fully recover, this is still worth it. Right, Teacher?”

Yi Lanya smiled but didn’t reply, only nodded slightly. She was doing her best to hold back her frustration, afraid she might lash out if she spoke.

Ji Xuan didn’t push Xiao Yu away but let her be. His eyes never left the two children—since Xiao Yu had only just started recovering, he worried she might not be strong enough to support them, and that the kids might accidentally fall.

Yi Lanya looked at Ji Xuan, her heart filled with both pain and resentment. She was hurt that Ji Xuan showed no concern for her whatsoever, and she hated him for bringing his ex-wife back into the picture, delaying her own plans.

As for Xiao Yu, Yi Lanya wished she could rip that fake mask off her face.

Xiao Yu’s words were so deliberately pointed—there was no way Ji Xuan couldn’t tell—yet he just let her bully people like that.

Xiao Yu then nudged Ji Yu and cast a casual glance at Yi Lanya before asking, “Teacher, you’re so beautiful—do you have a boyfriend?”

Yi Lanya shook her head. “I’m still young.”

Unlike you, old hag.

Xiao Yu smiled. “Ah, not like me. I’m old now.”

Yi Lanya nearly nodded in agreement, but thankfully held back just in time.

Then Xiao Yu suddenly changed her tone and said, “Although I am a bit older, I can’t help that I have such a baby face! Everyone says I still look like a high schooler—hahaha…”

Yi Lanya: “…”

Xiao Yu even reached up to touch her own face and added, “My skin’s been looking great lately too. Ji Xuan often stares at me in a daze!”

Yi Lanya: “……”

Ji Xuan looked at Xiao Yu in shock, almost blurting out, “What are you talking about?!”

But Xiao Yu quickly reached out and covered his mouth, saying with a playful smile,
“Stop complimenting me—you’ll make me arrogant!”

Finally, Ji Xuan managed to say, “That’s not true. I didn’t say that.”

Yi Lanya watched their exchange, and at last, successfully smashed the Ji family’s water cup to the floor.

Xiao Yu immediately clung to Ji Xuan in worry and turned to Yi Lanya.

“Teacher, are you alright? Aunt Kong—come quickly!”

Kong Yuqing, who had been observing the entire scene, rushed over with lightning speed and said to Yi Lanya, “Miss Yi, please don’t move! I’ll have someone clean this up—how could we let a guest do it?”

Xiao Yu held Ji Xuan’s hand, smiling sweetly.

“Teacher, do be careful! Don’t cut yourself. Ji Xuan, take the child upstairs. He’s so energetic—if he runs around, he might step on the broken glass.”

Ji Xuan gave her a helpless glance, then left with the child in his arms.

Xiao Yu turned to Yi Lanya with a gentle smile and said, “I might be getting back together with Ji Xuan.”

Yi Lanya: “!!!”

Then Xiao Yu calmly added, “If that happens, of course I’ll invite you to the wedding.”

Yi Lanya: “…” We’re not even close, thank you very much.

=^_^=