Chapter 24: What Bad Luck

What an expensive outfit!

The light blue suit seemed like a high-end piece from this season’s QL parent-child collection. A luxury brand where even a single button must cost tens of thousands!

Chen Ruyi instinctively glanced at Yan Yueqing, who stood beside Jun Yan—

This woman was beautiful and well-dressed, yet not a single designer item adorned her!

So ordinary, she must just be passing by, completely unrelated to this wealthy little boy.

Chen Ruyi immediately abandoned her intention to strike up a conversation.

Shi Moxi, delighted to see her mother, didn’t wait for questions and recounted the events again. At the end, she added, “Mom, the hallway was so dark, Momo was really scared, but Dad taught Momo to be grateful! So Momo didn’t leave by herself but stayed to keep Brother Yan company.”

Her big, watery eyes were filled with anticipation, as if waiting for her mother’s praise!

Chen Ruyi merely cast a faint glance at her daughter before quickly plastering on a smile and approaching Jun Yan. “So it was you who saved my Momo? That’s wonderful! Your name is Jun Yan, right? Are your parents around? I’d like to thank them in person for raising such a good child!”

The overwhelming scent of perfume was suffocating.

Jun Yan frowned, his expression blank, but his displeasure was evident.

Chen Ruyi’s enthusiasm was palpable!

Jun Yan!

His surname is Jun!

Could he possibly be the legendary young master of the capital’s elite?

In a city filled with powerful figures, her husband, despite having assets worth over a hundred million, barely scraped into the fourth tier of society. To do business with second and third-tier people, he had lost count of the smiles he’d faked and the profits he’d conceded.

And the Jun family—

They stood firmly at the pinnacle of the first tier!

The current head of the family, Jun Lie, was a formidable giant in the business world, striking fear into the hearts of many.

This department store in C City, worth over a billion, was merely a small rural venture to the Jun family, far from their base in the capital.

Such a family was originally beyond Chen Ruyi’s reach.

However, a few years ago, rumors circulated that the aloof Jun Lie had suddenly announced an heir!

And just two days ago, this heir had arrived in C City…

Chen Ruyi had seen the secretly circulated photos of the young master.

Though she couldn’t make out his features clearly from afar, the silhouette matched this little boy’s!

Looking at Jun Yan’s attire and demeanor, how could he be from an ordinary family?

Even if he wasn’t from the colossal Jun family, this child’s parents must be either rich or noble—making connections could only be beneficial!

Chen Ruyi smiled brightly, completely disregarding her own daughter.

Shi Moxi blinked, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

Jun Yan distanced himself, saying coldly, “It was nothing.”

Chen Ruyi was elated. “Oh, Xiao Yan, your upbringing is truly commendable! Are your parents nearby? Auntie would like to personally thank you in front of them.”

Xiao Yan?

So overly familiar already?

Jun Yan was displeased. He had encountered countless women like her since he could remember!

Each one, upon hearing his name, couldn’t help but approach, creating a racket more annoying than his grandfather’s flock of ducks!

He didn’t want to say much, giving perfunctory replies with his little face tightly drawn, not mentioning his parents at all.

Chen Ruyi, pretending to understand, insisted on pressing for details.

Yan Yueqing had initially wanted to leave, but seeing the increasing pressure around the little ice prince, she felt an inexplicable softness in her heart. She quietly stepped between the two, her tone gentle: “Xiao Yan, we should go home now.”

Suddenly, the system activated.

“Potential target baby detected. Does the host wish to bind with him?”

[Name: Jun Yan

Age: 5 years

Favorability towards host: 0]

[Task: Establish a nurturing relationship with Jun Yan. Task completed when his favorability towards the host exceeds 90 points.]

[Reward: Basic Business Skills, +10 Strength Points, 10% refund of cultivation funds spent]

Well, well!

This cute child even comes with a special skill bonus?

Yan Yueqing hadn’t expected such an unexpected gain, further solidifying her resolve to help Jun Yan out of his predicament!

Jun Yan, on the edge of irritation, was suddenly soothed by this gentle address.

He looked up to see the woman standing protectively in front of him.

Her slender back somehow exuded boundless strength.

Chen Ruyi stood up suspiciously. “You… who are you?”

Yan Yueqing smiled slightly. “I’m his mother.”

Mother?!

The little ice prince’s expression showed a hint of surprise.

Those eyes, usually devoid of emotion, suddenly showed a trace of fluctuation.

Chen Ruyi looked her up and down. With that attire, how could she be the birth mother of this noble young master?

“Miss, even if you’re pretending, you should at least make it believable,” she scoffed. “You’re dressed so ordinarily, yet your son is covered in designer brands?”

“I was just playing dress-up with my son at the cosplay store downstairs,” Yan Yueqing said, looking at Jun Yan’s clothes with an affectionate smile. “This high-quality replica is so realistic. When my Xiao Yan changed and came out, he looked even more handsome than child stars on TV!”

My Xiao Yan…

Those four words were filled with immense pride.

Jun Yan’s fingertips trembled slightly. Someone actually dared to claim to be his mother?!

His piercing gaze swept over her face.

Half observing, half scrutinizing.

The woman stood there calmly, her tone matter-of-fact as she cleared things up for him.

Jun Yan looked for a good while before slowly withdrawing his gaze.

Although he didn’t want to admit it, he… indeed didn’t dislike this feeling.

Chen Ruyi didn’t believe a word, sneering, “High-quality replica? Clothes can be replicated, but can grace and bearing?”

Yan Yueqing didn’t engage with her comment, instead changing the subject. “Momo was trapped, and little Yan happened to discover her. It was just a small act of kindness, and you’ve already thanked him personally! You should be more concerned about Momo. A little girl trapped for so long must be frightened.”

This mother is really unreliable, Chen Ruyi thought.

Her daughter’s eyes are still brimming with tears, yet she has time to chat up strangers?

Chen Ruyi frowned.

Yan Yueqing said straightforwardly, “If you still want to express gratitude, why not just send money? We rescued Momo, so giving us a few thousand yuan as a token of appreciation isn’t unreasonable, right?”

Chen Ruyi was speechless. How mercenary.

Unexpectedly, Jun Yan nodded silently behind her, seemingly agreeing with her words.

Would the Jun family’s little prince need money?

Impossible!

His reaction, in Chen Ruyi’s mind, instantly dropped him from a high pedestal to the level of a common market.

It seems she had bet on the wrong horse today.

She thought she’d found a gold brick, but it turned out to be a lump of mud.

Thinking about how enthusiastic she had been towards an ordinary person, Chen Ruyi was extremely dissatisfied. She immediately dropped her smile, not even bothering with superficial politeness anymore. She turned away indifferently, no longer acknowledging the mother and son, and directly pulled Shi Moxi away.

The little girl looked back longingly, but unable to resist her mother, she left with tears in her eyes.

After they had walked far away, Yan Yueqing turned back. “I’m sorry for borrowing your mother’s identity earlier.”

Jun Yan’s eyes darkened.

“No need to apologize,” he pressed his lips together, his mature little voice carrying a hint of precise disappointment. “I should thank you…”

In his five years of life, this was the first time he knew what it felt like to be protected by a mother.

Yan Yueqing crouched down and asked with concern, “Do you want me to take you to find your parents?”

Jun Yan shook his head. “No need, someone will come soon.” He raised his hand to check his watch, calculating the time. “It’s been twenty minutes already.”

Even if the security hadn’t noticed, the bodyguards following him should have found him by now!

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, a bodyguard came running from afar: “Young Master Yan!”