Xiao Yu whistled and looked up at the ceiling, feigning innocence. After a beat, she said, “It’s not that I don’t dare, I’m just thinking… maybe she’s still too young. Better not say it—don’t want the whole world to find out, right… Er—”

She burst out laughing before she could finish.

Ji Xuan clenched his teeth, grabbed a bun, and took a huge, angry bite, washing it down with soy milk.

Ji Yu, munching on a bun of her own, took a sip of her drink and said to Xiao Yu, “Mommy… this breakfast isn’t very ‘super yummy yummy’ after all.”

Xiao Yu took a bite of her bun, then waved Ji Yu over and said, “Come eat with Mommy. Leave those for your dad.”

Ji Xuan: “…”

After finishing his rather uninspired breakfast, Ji Xuan grabbed his black leather briefcase and left the house with a gloomy expression. But as soon as he opened the door, he came face-to-face with Yi Lanya, who flinched as if startled.

Xiao Yu: …Unbelievable. Like a cockroach that just won’t die—she bounced back that fast?

Had Yi Lanya recovered? Oh, she had. Not only had she bounced back, she had leveled up. After enduring half a month of Xiao Yu’s relentless subtle jabs, power moves, and not-so-subtle flaunting, Yi Lanya had finally come to a bold conclusion: Ha! You don’t like me? Well guess what—I’m still coming. I’ll keep coming. Over and over. What are you gonna do about it?

With an innocent, slightly startled expression, Yi Lanya said, “Mr. Ji, heading to work?”

Ji Xuan glanced at his watch.

“You’re here early today.”

Yi Lanya smiled sweetly.

“Had nothing else to do, so I came a bit earlier. Is Xiao Yu around?”

Ji Xuan turned back toward the house and looked at Xiao Yu with a grin, then said to Yi Lanya, “She’s here. Come on in—and stay for dinner tonight.”

Xiao Yu: …Wow. Petty much?

She motioned for Auntie Wang to push her wheelchair forward.

“Miss Yi! You’re here! I thought you’d need more time to recover. Have you had breakfast yet?”

Yi Lanya smiled politely. “Yes, I have.”

Xiao Yu quickly invited her in, then waved Ji Xuan off with a dismissive flick of her hand.

“Alright, off you go.”

Ji Xuan paused at the door.

“…I’ll be back this afternoon. Make me lunch.”

Xiao Yu ignored him and cheerfully called out, “Xiao Yu, your teacher’s here!”

Season bun still in hand, Ji Yu immediately perked up and ran toward the door. Meanwhile, Xiao Ruoguang glanced around with a siomai still in his mouth, his eyes turning mischievously.

“Teacher, you’re here?” Ji Yu reached Yi Lanya’s side and tugged gently at her dress.

Yi Lanya smiled and patted Ji Yu’s head.

“Teacher had nothing to do today, so I came early. I haven’t played with you in a few days—I missed you!”

Ji Yu nodded happily.

“Mhm! I have lots of free time today too!”

Just then, Xiao Ruoguang walked out holding a plate of buns.

“Teacher, these are buns my sister bought. Please have one.”

Ji Yu quickly picked out the softest, fluffiest bun and handed it to Yi Lanya.

“I went out and bought them today! They’re really good.”

Yi Lanya took it with a smile and took a bite.

“Mmm, very tasty—slightly sweet, too. Have you ever had pan-fried bun slices? They’re even better. I’ll make some for you later!”

Xiao Yu sat back, watching Yi Lanya lead Ji Yu inside, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
Huh? She’s not even mad anymore? When did that change?

Auntie Kong looked slightly puzzled as Yi Lanya entered the kitchen carrying the plate of buns. Yi Lanya turned and said, “I’ll fry up some bun slices for Xiao Yu. It’s something we poor folks do, but it’s simple and tasty. You don’t mind if I borrow the kitchen for a bit, do you, Auntie Kong?”

Before Auntie Kong could figure out how to respond, Xiao Yu entered and smoothly interjected, “Oh, I feel so bad troubling you like this, Teacher. Xiao Yu, come—let’s go play the piano together. When Teacher finishes cooking, she’ll call you to come eat.”

Ji Yu looked at Yi Lanya, who was briefly stunned, then turned to Xiao Yu with an apologetic smile.

“I was hoping Xiao Yu could help me in the kitchen. It’s good for children to use their hands—it builds motor skills and helps them form a better relationship with food.”

Xiao Yu responded just as softly, “I was hoping Xiao Yu could spend more time with me too. More time with her mom means we can grow closer.”

Caught in the middle with no principles to speak of, Ji Yu promptly ran over to Xiao Yu’s side and said, “Mommy, I’ll play with you.” Then she turned to Yi Lanya and added, “Teacher, you go ahead and start cooking. I’ll come help you later when I have time!”

Yi Lanya gave them both a gentle smile as they left, and Xiao Yu rolled her eyes dramatically toward the ceiling.

Trying to play the virtuous act? Let’s see you wriggle out of that one. Serves you right!

So Yi Lanya ended up standing there, watching Xiao Yu spend the entire morning playing piano with the kids—from “Two Tigers” to “I Go to School”—singing along with them the whole time, looking absolutely delighted.

When Ji Xuan came home, the first thing he saw was Xiao Yu, Xiao Ruoguang, and Ji Yu cuddled together on the couch, watching TV. Yi Lanya was sitting stiffly on the other sofa, her smile frozen on her face.

Ji Xuan paused.

“…Ms. Yi, are you… alright?”

Yi Lanya’s face looked like it had been stuck in a smile for hours. She pulled at the corners of her mouth and forced a cheerful expression.

“I’m fine! Mr. Ji, you’re back! Must’ve been a hard day at work.”

Xiao Yu gave her a calm, sidelong glance before turning to Ji Xuan.

“Out for just three hours—what’s so exhausting about that? You look full of energy to me.”

Ji Xuan: “…”

Kong Yuqing came out from the kitchen. Seeing Ji Xuan had returned, she greeted him and asked, “Young Master, lunch is ready. Would you like to eat now?”

Ji Xuan nodded, then gave Yi Lanya another look, unsure.

“Ms. Yi, are you sure you’re okay?” Her face looked like it couldn’t move anymore.

Yi Lanya nodded with a smile that barely moved.

Ji Xuan turned to Xiao Yu. “Let’s eat.”

Xiao Yu held out her arms. “Hug.”

Ji Xuan: “…”

He crouched down and picked her up, then looked over his shoulder to the kids.

“You two, follow us.” Then turned to Yi Lanya.

“Ms. Yi, please join us.”

With that, he carried Xiao Yu to the dining table, eyes straight ahead, not glancing at Yi Lanya even once.

Lunch today had no spicy food. The sweet potato steamed pork was Xiao Yu’s request, and the bitter melon soup was prepared for Xiao Ruoguang.

Recently, since getting his hands on a meal card, Xiao Ruoguang had been eating too many spicy, greasy foods and had developed a sore throat.

Unfortunately, he had absolutely no interest in the bitter melon soup. He held his bowl and tried to go serve himself some pork rib soup instead. Xiao Yu took the bowl from his hands and handed it to Aunt Wang.

“Give him the bitter melon soup, please.”

Xiao Ruoguang frowned.

“I don’t like bitter melon, Mommy.”

Xiao Yu said coolly, “You think I like sitting in a wheelchair?”

Xiao Ruoguang lowered his head, took the bowl of bitter melon soup from Aunt Wang, and gulped it down in big mouthfuls. Then he looked up and asked, “Mom, I finished it. Can I eat something else now?”

“You can.” Xiao Yu picked up a pair of chopsticks and served him a portion of stir-fried lotus root with pork.

“Eat this.”

Xiao Ruoguang poked at the lotus root with his chopsticks for a moment, then reluctantly started eating.

Watching from the side, Ji Yu was about to say something when Yi Lanya quickly reached over and placed some food in her bowl.

“Here, let teacher help you. Mommy’s busy taking care of your little brother. What would Xiaoyu like to eat?”

Xiao Ruoguang frowned in displeasure.

“I don’t need to be taken care of. I always finish my food all by myself. Even Teacher said I’m really great.”

Yi Lanya smiled awkwardly.

“Oh? I didn’t know that. My mistake.”

Xiao Ruoguang looked at Ji Yu and said seriously, “Sister do you need the teacher to feed you?”

Even though Ji Yu didn’t actually need help eating, she had often been doted on and served meals in the past. But ever since Xiao Yu returned, Ji Yu had started eating properly on her own and hadn’t needed anyone to feed her.

Besides, she was already old enough to eat by herself—how could she lose face in front of her younger brother?

So Ji Yu took her bowl and began eating on her own. Yi Lanya kept her smile fixed in place and glanced over at Xiao Ruoguang.

In her heart, Xiao Yu was starting to feel a bit concerned. This woman… is she okay? Hope she’s not bottling it up too much—what if she breaks under the pressure?

After lunch, Yi Lanya pulled Ji Yu aside and asked, “Xiaoyu, do you have any homework to do? Want to take it out now?”

Xiao Yu chuckled and said with feigned embarrassment, “I actually tried helping Xiaoyu with her homework yesterday. Turns out she’s super smart—finished everything in no time. But Teacher, you could maybe teach her something else? Chinese characters, English, math—whatever you’d like!”

Yi Lanya stiffened slightly.

“I… I didn’t prepare for any of that today, but I’ll take a look and see what we can do!”

Xiao Yu smiled and said, “It’s fine, let’s just drop it today. I just got back anyway, and I want to spend more time with Xiaoyu. Besides, she’s only in first grade—there’s really no need for so much pressure.”

Yi Lanya immediately shot back, “They always say you can’t fall behind at the starting line.”

Xiao Yu waved her hand dismissively, laughing, “How can she fall behind at the starting line? She’s been sprinting toward the finish line since birth! Ha ha ha ha ha…”

Yi Lanya was speechless. She was so frustrated she could barely hold back her smile. Why isn’t she angry? she thought. I have to hold it in. Don’t want her to see me like this. I’ll just keep smiling every day right in front of her. If she’s unhappy, then I’ll be happy. Yi Lanya felt like crying from the tension. She thought she’d done well today, but why couldn’t Xiao Yu get mad?

Ji Xuan kept his word and let Yi Lanya stay for dinner, then arranged for the driver to take her home afterward.

After a day of stress, Yi Lanya wanted to recharge. She held onto the chair, feeling a little dizzy as she stood up. All afternoon, Ji Yu hadn’t done any tutoring with her—instead, she had spent the whole afternoon playing blocks and strategy games with Xiao Yu.

Whenever Yi Lanya wanted to play with Ji Yu, Xiao Yu insisted she was the teacher and only needed to tutor Ji Yu. But Yi Lanya hadn’t prepared a single lesson—what tutoring was there to do?

Taking a deep breath, Yi Lanya said her goodbyes to Xiao Yu and then reluctantly said goodbye to Ji Yu.

Xiao Yu wheeled the chair to the door, looked at the two kids who followed, and said, “Go find your dad. Mom’s going to see the teacher out.”

So the siblings happily ran off, successfully keeping Ji Xuan from coming out.

Xiao Yu stopped the wheelchair at the door and didn’t move. Yi Lanya forced a smile and said, “Thanks for your trouble today. I’ll be heading back now.”

Xiao Yu gently touched her wrist and whispered, “I thought you wouldn’t come.”

Yi Lanya was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Xiao Yu to be so straightforward, but she kept her smile and replied, “I don’t understand what Miss Xiao means. As Ji Yu’s tutor, I come every Saturday without fail. It’s my responsibility—I wouldn’t just not show up without notice.”

Xiao Yu chuckled softly. “I’m the opposite of you—I prefer to be upfront, while you like to sneak around. As they say, honest people don’t speak in riddles. So I’ll be direct with you: I know what you’re after, and I’ll tell you this—while I’m in the Ji family, you won’t get a chance.”

Yi Lanya smiled and asked, “What did Miss Xiao say? I don’t know.”

Xiao Yu remained calm, her eyes dark like grapes, her baby-faced expression edged with coldness. “Yi Lanya, there’s nothing you need to know—just remember, the Ji family isn’t something you should be dreaming about.”

Yi Lanya protested, “That’s unfair, Miss Xiao. But what right do you have to warn me? After all, you’re just living here temporarily.”

“Oh, maybe because I had a daughter six years ago, and a son three years ago,” Xiao Yu replied coolly.

Yi Lanya was speechless. Bitch!

When Xiao Yu returned inside, Ji Xuan was standing by the entrance. He looked at her and asked, “We’re taking the kids to the amusement park tomorrow. Are you coming?”

Xiao Yu smiled slyly, “Of course I’m going. Why wouldn’t I? If I don’t go, do you want Yi Lanya to go instead?” She knew he heard it, but he said nothing, and she didn’t press the point.

Ji Xuan reached out to push her wheelchair and led her toward the elevator.

Just before Xiao Yu closed the door, Ji Xuan said, “I only see Yi Lanya as Ji Yu’s tutor. I never intended to let her into this family.”

Xiao Yu smiled. “Remember that.”

Ji Xuan frowned. “….” Why?

The next day, Ji Xuan drove his ex-wife and their two children to the amusement park. It was crowded, as usual on a Sunday.

Most visitors were families of three. Since it was mainly a children’s park, rides like the carousel and airplane were common—safe and kid-friendly. For adults, there were roller coasters and a Ferris wheel, mostly to entertain young people or parents.

It was Xiaoguang’s first time at the park. He followed Ji Xuan inside, his eyes shining with excitement. Ji Xuan bent down, picked him up, and asked, “What do you want to play, Xiaoguang?”

Xiaoguang looked around and pointed at the carousel. “Ride the carousel! Ride the carousel!”

Ji Xuan smiled and took Xiaoguang to ride the carousel. Meanwhile, Ji Yu angrily held onto Xiao Yu’s wheelchair and said, “He’s completely forgotten about me. I hate him. He’s so biased toward boys — now that he has a little brother, he doesn’t want me anymore.”

Xiao Yu gently patted her head. “What do you want to play? I’ll take you.”

Ji Yu said she wanted to ride the train, so Xiao Yu helped her get a park pass and then took her to wait in line. Xiao Yu’s original wheelchair was just a basic model, but ever since her hands regained some movement, Ji Xuan had been planning to get her a better one.

Just yesterday, the new wheelchair arrived. It’s a powered model with controls on the armrest for direction — forward, backward, even a brake for stopping on slopes — and it even plays music.

Ji Yu just needed to hold onto the wheelchair as Xiao Yu wheeled her to the back of the line.

As they waited, Ji Yu trailed behind Xiao Yu, complaining about Ji Xuan nonstop, ending every sentence with, “He’s such a sexist old-fashioned dinosaur.”

“Is that Teacher Xiao?”

Xiao Yu was quietly listening when a familiar female voice called out. She turned her head, her expression softening a little.

“Teacher Xiao, is that really you? What happened to you?”

Xiao Yu smiled calmly. “I got hit by a car.”

The girl gasped, “Are you okay?”

“As you can see, I can’t walk anymore.”

The girl looked sad. “What a shame. You were supposed to compete in this year’s CTV piano competition. No wonder I didn’t see you at the venue.”

The girl was Xie Haiyun, one of Xiao Yu’s former students, very talented at the piano. She’d been playing far less time than Xiao Yu, and her family was well-off. Mother Xie had hired Xiao Yu because Xiao Yu had said she studied under her own father.

When Mother Xie heard that Xiao Yu’s father was a well-known pianist, she hired her immediately. Xiao Yu did have a lot of competition experience, and her skill level was decent.

After only six months of lessons with Xiao Yu, Xie Haiyun won that year’s National Youth Piano Competition. Meanwhile, Xiao Yu herself competed in the same year’s CTV piano contest but didn’t even make the top ten.

The situation quickly became awkward.

Xie Haiyun didn’t want Xiao Yu to keep teaching her, so she told her mother that she wasn’t learning anything from Xiao Yu — all her progress was from her own practice during that time.

She expected her mother to fire Xiao Yu, but instead, Mother Xie was furious. She confronted Xiao Yu, scolding her harshly, accusing her of seeking fame without merit.

Xiao Yu got angry and argued back, and eventually left without taking any payment.

Of course, that month, Xiaoguang’s meat sauce was gone.

“Teacher Xiao, are you still going to compete? After all, it’s just your legs that don’t work — your hands are fine,” Xie Haiyun sneered.

Ji Yu, overhearing this, flew into a rage. She shoved Xie Haiyun hard. Caught off guard, Xie Haiyun fell to the ground, scraping her hands and leaving two cuts.

Realizing her hands were injured, Xie Haiyun screamed sharply, “You little mutt! How did your mother raise you? My hands! They’re bleeding!”

Her friends rushed over to help her up, but as soon as she was on her feet, Xie Haiyun lunged at Ji Yu. “No one’s teaching you? Then I’ll teach you instead — in place of your mother!”

Xiao Yu quickly pulled Ji Yu to the other side of the wheelchair and grabbed Xie Haiyun’s wrist. “Who said I don’t have a mother? I’m her mother!”

Xie Haiyun’s eyes were red with fury. “You’re a pianist yourself — how could you not understand how important hands are to a pianist?” She sneered, “I get it. You’re just jealous because my talent is better than yours, right?”

Xiao Yu smiled faintly. “You’re overthinking it. But your attitude doesn’t sound like that of a true pianist. Your mother taught you how to be a pianist, but not how to be a decent person, did she?”

Xie Haiyun was so furious she looked like she was about to strike, but Xiao Yu immediately pulled out her phone and pointed it at her. “Go ahead, hit me! Then you won’t have to compete anymore. Fighters aren’t allowed in the competition — I’m sure you remember that, right?”

Xie Haiyun froze, raising her hands in surrender, her anger trembling on her face. Xiao Yu waved her phone from side to side, warning her, “Watch your words! Haha, I’m not sure if cursing will get you disqualified, but I’m sure the judges won’t be impressed, right?”

Xie Haiyun was speechless. What’s gotten into her now?

Behind her stood a young man who liked Xie Haiyun. Clenching his fists, he said, “Yunyun, don’t worry, I’ll handle her. I’m not a piano contestant—what can she do to me?”

True to his word, the guy started walking over. Xiao Yu frowned and looked at him. From behind, Ji Yu shouted, “I’m telling Dad! He’ll beat you up! You bully my mom, and now you want to fight me? I’ll have Dad take you down!”

Xiao Yu sighed inwardly. Kid, things are getting a bit out of hand. Could you tone it down?

The guy sneered. Xiao Yu locked eyes with him and asked, “Are you sure you want to fight me?”

The guy was taken aback. What kind of question is that? Do you even have to ask before hitting someone?

He nodded. Then Xiao Yu shouted behind him, “Ji Xuan! Come quick! Someone’s trying to fight your wife and daughter!”

Ji Yu spotting Ji Xuan approaching with Xiao Ruoguang in his arms, also yelled. “Dad! Dad, hurry! Someone’s trying to hit me and mom!”

And so, Ji Xuan who’d finally tracked down his ex-wofe and daughter—strode over. At 190 cm tall, he loomed imposingly over the young man and growled. “Who dares to touch my wife and kid?”

Xiao Ruoguang pointed at the guy and said, “Dad, I think it’s him.”

The young man: “…”

=^_^=