Diwa personally carried Lihua's breakfast up to her room.
Mrs. Wang stood, took the tray from her, set it aside, and then sat down, giving her full attention to her younger sister.
Lihua spoke first, her tone heavy with frustration.
"Well, you heard that Jie. And by God's grace, one day I will take my children away from that house completely. As long as I live… just look at how Shao has changed. That woman has destroyed everything between them and their father. She's trying to ruin my children. I swear, if not for San's behaviors, nothing would have stopped me from throwing her out and returning to his home."
Mrs. Wang, who had been quietly observing her, asked calmly,
"What exactly happened?"
Lihua let out a sharp breath and gestured in disbelief.
"Are you serious right now, Jie?"
Mrs. Wang didn't respond immediately. Instead, her gaze shifted toward Shao, who had just stepped out of the bathroom and walked past them.
Lihua stood up and began preparing her tea.
"Go and apply some lotion, then come have breakfast, Pretty."
Mrs. Wang sighed softly.
"May God her the right part… and guide those who behave like that. May He protect us and our children."
"Amen," Lihua replied.
Mrs. Wang continued, her tone firm but measured.
"That's why I keep advising you...keep your distance from such people peacefully. A simple greeting is enough. All this hostility and pride isn't necessary."
Lihua waved her off immediately, her expression hardening.
"No, don't start that again. Please, don't ruin my mood. Are they my family...my mother's or my father's...that I should just greet them politely while they look down on me? I won't accept it. As long as I'm alive, my children will not be treated like outsiders while they suffer. So leave me alone...let me deal with people the way I choose."
Mrs. Wang clicked her tongue.
"Your stubbornness will be your undoing. Whatever you do to other people's children will one day be done to yours. That's what I keep trying to make you understand, but you refuse."
Irritated, Lihua stood up and faced her.
"I've known for a long time that you don't like me. You only tolerate me out of obligation. Even your servants seem more important to you than I am. Jie, do I have to love people the way you do? What do I have to do with other people's children? Please, let me live my life the way I want. Keep letting people beside you like you always do...until one day, you let the wrong person, someone who will drag you out of that shadow you keep putting others into. We'll be right here, waiting."
Mrs. Wang stood up without a word and headed for the door.
Lihua followed her with a cold glare.
"You love people so much? Be careful...those same people might be the ones who take away your happiness. To me, i can't like or love others children."
(Me the author said, that's why nobody would like or love yours Lihua.)
Bozai, who had been sitting quietly the entire time, finally shook his head after Mrs. Wang left.
Lihua turned to him.
"You heard her, didn't you, Bozai? Should I welcome people into my life only for them to make things difficult for me? When it comes to my children....that's different. She thinks our situations are the same, but they are not. It's better she leaves me alone. Any child who doesn't put my children first means nothing to me. And once I dislike someone, I dislike them forever. No one can change my mind."
Bozai sighed.
"Aunt, honestly, I don't understand why Mum is acting like this. One day it's one person, the next day it's another. It took her days just to send that troublesome girl back to her village, and now she's brought in someone else. And from what I can see… she's even been enrolled him in school."
Lihua turned sharply.
"Enrolled him in School? What do you mean?"
"I'm serious," Bozai replied.
Lihua covered her mouth, her heartbeat quickening. Without another word, she turned and rushed out of the room.
Downstairs, she found Diwa in the kitchen, humming as she worked.
The moment Diwa saw her, she fell silent and forced a smile.
"Oh… you're awake, Ma'am."
Ignoring her, Lihua asked coldly,
"Where is your fellow worker?"
Diwa lowered her head.
"Ma'am… yesterday Mrs. Wang enrolled him in the same school the children attend. He hasn't returned yet."
Lihua cursed under her breath and stormed off before Diwa could say anything else.
She marched upstairs and pushed open Mrs. Wang's door.
From the doorway, she said sharply,
"Jie, is it true you enrolled that servant in Siya's school?"
Mrs. Wang raised her hand slightly, signaling her to stop.
"Lihua, leave my room. Please. Did I use your money to enroll him? Or money you gave me?"
Lihua let out a bitter laugh.
"Neither. But I swear, you've made a terrible mistake. A servant… in that school? You'll regret it. Anyway...forget it."
She turned and left.
Back in the living room, she sat down, tapping her foot impatiently, anger burning inside her.
Then she picked up her phone and called Yibo.
Yibo, seated in his office, glanced at his phone as it rang. Seeing her name, he almost ignored it before finally answering.
He greeted her, but she didn't respond. Her voice came sharp and raised.
"Yibo, are you really in that house watching Jie enroll a servant into the same school you attended?"
He clicked his tongue softly but said nothing, waiting for her to finish.
She continued, her tone full of scorn.
"Calling you was pointless anyway...you and Jie are exactly the same. Hypocrites. But mark my words...she has brought trouble upon herself. She will regret letting people the way she's been doing. It won't be long. One day she'll come to me and admit, 'Lihua, you were right all along.' And I will laugh at her."
She didn't stop.
"And you...keep following her blindly. Let's see how that ends for you. It won't take long. That boy you enrolled in school? He will cause a disgrace you will never forget. He will embarrass all of you, i will make sure of that."
With that, she hung up.
Yibo lowered his phone slowly, exhaling.
Under his breath, he muttered,
"May you find some sense."
Then he set the phone aside and returned to his work.
⏭ ⏭
By evening, after Zhan returned, he was in the bathroom while Diwa laid out his clothes.
Lihua entered the room, with Shao following behind. She didn't bother closing the door. Fixing Diwa with a sharp, piercing look, she asked,
"Where is that wretched boy?"
Diwa was at a loss for words, stammering nervously. Just then, Zhan stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, heading into the room.
The moment he saw Lihua, fear was written all over his face.
Without hesitation, Lihua stepped forward and slapped him hard.
"So this is what you've become?" she snapped. "Because you're staying in this house, you think you can let them send you to school?"
Tears filled Zhan's eyes as he trembled.
"Please forgive me, Aunt…"
She struck him again, banging his head against the wall, her teeth clenched in anger.
"You've ruined the dignity you came into this house with! You let them enroll you in school because you want to act smart?"
Zhan clutched his head, crying helplessly, his eyes darting toward Diwa for help...but Diwa stood frozen, unable to intervene.
Lihua continued hitting him, shouting,
"You think you're clever? Then leave this house!"
At that moment, Mrs. Wang's voice echoed from outside:
"Come here, Lihua."
Lihua paused, breathing heavily, but Mrs. Wang had already walked away. She grabbed Zhan again and slammed him against the wall.
"You will tell them yourself that you don't want to go to school. If you don't, I will deal with you. Do you understand?"
With that, she stormed out, her face twisted with anger.
Upstairs, she found Mrs. Wang waiting.
Mrs. Wang looked at her, deeply displeased.
"Lihua, if you cannot live peacefully with me and the people in this house, then you should prepare to leave. I have never stopped you from staying in your husband's home. But here, in my house, you will not oppress others."
Her voice hardened.
"What concern is it of yours that I sent him to school? Did I use your money? Or anyone else's?"
Lihua said nothing.
Mrs. Wang continued, her anger now unmistakable:
"You complain about how your own children are treated elsewhere, yet you treat another person's child like this? Beating him mercilessly? I am tired of this behavior."
She stepped closer.
"From now on, mind your place in this house. Zhan is not your concern. My relationship with you is separate from my responsibility toward him."
Without another word, she turned and walked into her room.
Lihua broke down in tears.
She began packing her belongings and Shao's things, intending to leave.
But then she stopped.
So this boy is enough to make you leave?
Her expression hardened.
"No… he should be the one to leave."
That single thought rooted itself in her heart. From that moment, her hatred for Zhan deepened. She made a silent decision...before she left that house, she would destroy his place in it.
Around five o'clock, Yibo returned home.
He sat in the dining area, ignoring Lihua's presence in the living room when she refused to talk to him.
After eating, he went couch and settled with his laptop.
Shao passed through the living room several times. Their eyes met, but she didn't greet him...and he didn't acknowledge her either.
Eventually, she went to the dining area for water. Their eyes met again.
Yibo shook his head slightly.
"You should learn some manners," he said calmly. "Staring at people like that isn't appropriate."
She frowned, lifted her chin, and walked away.
Lihua, who had heard everything, stood up immediately.
"Oh? So now you're correcting her?" she said sharply. "You're the reason she behaves that way."
Her tone grew harsher.
"And who do you think she is? Someone beneath you? If you had any decency, you would have greeted her first instead of acting proud."
She grabbed Shao's hand.
"Remember this...she is not beneath you. Not now, not ever."
As she led Shao upstairs, she added bitterly,
"One day, that boy you're defending will bring disgrace to this house. And when that day comes, I will be there to watch."
Yibo clicked his tongue lightly and returned to his laptop.
A while later, Baby entered the dining area.
"Aunt Lihua really talks too much," she muttered. "And I don't even like her daughter. She's been giving me strange looks all day. I think she even used my sponge this morning."
Yibo didn't respond.
She opened her math book.
"Gege, please help me with my assignment."
He glanced at the book.
"Go ask your classmate."
"Meilin?" she asked.
"Yes."
"He's not feeling well," Baby said. "Please help me. I'll take it to him later so he can copy."
Yibo paused.
"What's wrong with him?"
Baby shrugged.
"I don't know… maybe because Aunt Lihua beat him earlier. You know she hit him, right?"
Yibo's expression changed.
"She did what?"
"In the room downstairs," Baby said. "She hit him badly, banging his head several times. I told Mum, and she came down and scolded Aunt Lihua until she cried. She even started packing, but I don't know why she stopped."
Yibo stood up immediately.
"Take me to him."
They went to Diwa's room.
Zhan was lying on the bed, covered with a blanket. His lips were swollen and red, clear signs he had cried for a long time.
Yibo reached out and touched his forehead.
It was burning.
Baby touched him too.
"You see? He's running a fever. Aunt Lihua caused this."
Yibo turned and went straight to Mrs. Wang's room.
He waited until she finished her call.
She looked up.
"What is it?"
His voice was controlled, but firm.
"What Aunt Lihua is doing in this house is going too far. Why would she beat him like that?"
Mrs. Wang sighed.
"I've already spoken to her. I know Baby must have told you. Even I was shocked by what happened."
Yibo's jaw tightened.
"She's made him sick."
Mrs. Wang shook her head.
"He did nothing to deserve it."
Without another word, Yibo turned and left.
Outside, he passed Bozai, who was coming out of Lihua's room.
He went back downstairs and sat in the dining area again, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Wang went to Diwa's room.
Seeing Zhan's condition, she gently woke him and helped him upstairs to Baby's room.
Baby sat beside him.
"Mum, let him stay here," she said softly. "We can do our assignments together."
Mrs. Wang nodded.
"Go call your brother."
Moments later, Baby returned.
"He's coming."
Yibo entered shortly after.
Mrs. Wang looked at him.
"Can you get some medicine for him, please?"
Yibo stepped closer to the bed, looking down at Zhan...silent, but clearly troubled.
Mrs. Wang added quietly,
"Some people cannot tolerate injustice when it happens to them… yet they ignore what they do to others."
Then she left the room.
Yibo remained there for a moment.
Watching Zhan.
:
:
Yibo went to the pharmacy, bought the medication, and returned home. He headed straight to Mrs. Wang's room and handed her the bag.
She glanced at it and said calmly,
"Did i know what to give him. Go wake him up and give him the medicine."
"Alright," he replied, then turned and left for Baby's room.
Baby was seated at her study table, focused on her mathematics homework.
Yibo walked over to the bed and looked down at Zhan, then glanced at Baby.
"Go downstairs and ask Diwa if he has eaten," he said.
Baby left and quickly returned with a plate of food in her hands, placing it on the floor.
"She said he hasn't eaten," Baby reported.
"Tell her to make a cup of tea," Yibo said.
Baby ran off again and returned shortly with a cup of tea. Yibo took it and set it aside before gently waking Zhan.
Zhan sat up slowly, his eyes heavy. Yibo handed him the cup.
Zhan shook his head weakly.
"I'm not hungry."
Yibo's tone didn't change.
"I know. Drink this before I come back."
Without waiting for a reply, he left the room.
The moment he was gone, Baby rushed over.
"Give it to me....let me help you before he comes back."
Zhan hesitated but handed her the cup. Since it was still hot, Baby began sipping it herself. After drinking half, she passed it back.
Zhan looked at her.
"There's still a lot left."
Baby tilted her head stubbornly and drank almost all of it, leaving just a little before handing it back. Then she quickly wiped her mouth and returned to her desk as if nothing had happened.
Zhan finished the remaining tea and set the cup aside.
Just as he was about to lie down again, Yibo returned.
His eyes went straight to the cup.
He shook his head slightly.
Baby avoided his gaze, pretending to focus on her work.
Yibo looked at Zhan.
"So… you gave her the tea to drink?"
Before he could say more, Baby bolted out of the room.
Yibo watched her leave, then picked up the cup and handed it back to Zhan.
"Go downstairs and get another one."
Zhan's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm really not hungry…"
Yibo exhaled quietly.
"Get up."
Zhan stood up weakly and took the cup. As he turned to leave, Yibo added,
"I'll be waiting."
Downstairs, Diwa filled the cup halfway with tea. Zhan returned upstairs and found Yibo standing where he had left him.
Without argument, Zhan drank the tea.
Yibo then handed him the medicine with bottled water. Zhan struggled to swallow, tears streaming down his face.
Yibo watched silently.
As Zhan tried to lie down again, Yibo stopped him. He picked up Baby's math textbook and placed it in his hands.
"Finish this first. You're not sleeping yet."
Zhan hesitated but took the book.
Yibo added,
"When you're done, bring it downstairs."
"Yes…" Zhan replied softly.
Yibo turned and left.
He returned to the dining area and sat down.
Bozai, who was in the living room, didn't speak to him...and neither did Yibo.
About fifteen minutes later, Zhan came downstairs, holding Baby's textbook and notebook.
He walked up to Yibo and placed them in front of him.
"I'm done… Gege."
Yibo picked up the book and reviewed his work carefully. After a moment, he said,
"Good. And you wanted to be placed in grade 8?"
Zhan gave a small smile.
"I am in junior 2. My previous tutor was already teaching me Junior 3 material."
Yibo closed the book without responding further.
Noticing Zhan still standing there, he looked up at his swollen eyes.
"You can go."
Zhan turned to leave for Diwa's room, but Yibo called him back.
He stopped and returned.
"Go and sleep in Baby's room tonight," Yibo said.
Zhan glanced upstairs, uncertain.
"Go," Yibo repeated firmly.
Zhan nodded and headed upstairs.
From the corner of his eye, Bozai watched him.
That night, Zhan slept in Baby's room.
From then on, it became permanent...not because Diwa insisted, but because Baby did. She even asked Mrs. Wang to have Zhan's belongings moved into her room since there was space.
This change deeply unsettled Lihua.
She watched everything closely.
Zhan being in Baby's room… it bothered her more than anything. But she said nothing...especially since she had stopped speaking to Yibo entirely. She also avoided Mrs. Wang.
Now, she kept mostly to herself, with Bozai, Siya, and Anei.
Only she knew what she was planning.
Bozai spent most of his time in Lihua's room.
Since there had been no resolution with the children's father, Mr. Wang, Lihua still hadn't confronted him directly about Zhan. Her past had made her hard....after three failed marriages, she had no patience left for compromise.
Seeing how Yibo paid attention to Zhan only made something tighten painfully in her chest.
☀☀☀
After a week, Mr. Wang returned to Germany...alone, without Bozai.
Meanwhile, Shao began provoking Zhan almost daily.
Sometimes it was subtle. Other times, it was open insults...clearly encouraged by her mother.
But Zhan never reacted.
He remembered Mrs. Wang's words and chose silence every time.
Frustrated, Shao redirected her anger toward Baby.
Arguments became frequent. Sometimes they even turned physical.
This wasn't what Lihua originally wanted...she had hoped to create conflict between Zhan and Shao.
But since Zhan refused to engage, the tension shifted elsewhere.
Still, Baby didn't back down.
She fought back just as fiercely.
And instead of stopping, the situation only escalated further…
That Monday morning, Mrs. Wang called Bozai and handed him some money.
"This afternoon, after the children leave for school, take Shao and get her registered," she said. "She claims she's in grade 9"
Bozai nodded.
"Alright, Mum. Including uniforms?"
"Yes," she replied. "Your father already provided for that."
He counted the money briefly, then left the room.
Mrs. Wang walked to Lihua's room and opened the door. Since they were sharing the room with Shao, she felt it was only right to check on them. Lihua had already made sure Shao no longer entered Baby's room, especially now that Zhan was staying there.
Lihua lifted her head, her expression cold.
"You need to wake her up and get her ready," Mrs. Wang said firmly. "She'll be going to school with the others."
Without waiting for a reply, she closed the door.
Meanwhile, Yibo was in his room getting dressed when Baby walked in, already in her uniform, her lips pushed out in a pout.
"Gege, this Shao is really annoying," she complained. "Mum says she's starting our school today...and she'll be in my class, with me and Meilin. She's going to keep provoking me."
Yibo buttoned his shirt calmly.
"Then tell Mum again."
"I did!" she said, more frustrated. "But Bozai said he'll hit me if I complain. He's always supporting that girl."
Yibo clicked his tongue but didn't respond.
Baby stepped closer and handed him a sheet of paper.
"Look… Meilin solved this math question, but I told him it was wrong."
He took it, examined it, then glanced up.
"Where is he?"
Baby turned...and right on cue, Zhan appeared at the doorway, wearing his uniform.
"Good morning, Gege," he said politely.
Yibo studied him briefly.
"You solved this?"
Zhan blinked.
"Yes… with my own hands."
Yibo handed the paper back.
"It's wrong."
Zhan stepped forward, frowning slightly as he checked it.
"But we worked on it together," he said, glancing at Baby.
Yibo shrugged.
"Submit it like that. Learn not to fear mistakes."
Zhan smiled faintly.
"Alright. Thank you."
He left the room, and Baby followed behind him.
:
:
Later that day, after school, Shao sat with Lihua, recounting everything excitedly.
"So you're in the same class as that boy?" Lihua asked, her face tightening.
"Yes," Shao said, pouting. "And every time a question is asked, he's the one answering. They even call him Meilin in class. He acts like he knows everything."
She hesitated, then added,
"And Yibo-Gege came to school today…"
Lihua's eyes sharpened.
"To see who?"
Shao frowned.
"I saw him bring Zhan watercolors and a math set. During break, he came just for him."
Lihua's lips curved slightly.
"Oh…"
"He even ignored me," Shao continued bitterly. "I walked right past his car, and he didn't even acknowledge me."
Lihua remained silent, her thoughts racing. Then she clicked her tongue softly and smiled...a calculating expression.
Back in class, Baby was laughing so hard she could barely stand.
Zhan sat calmly, looking at his test paper...full marks in both Mathematics and English.
Another girl grabbed Baby's paper mid-laughter.
"15 out of 20," she read.
Baby glanced at Shao, who stood at a distance, trying to maintain composure. Baby rolled up her paper and hid it...then burst into laughter again.
On the way home, Baby kept stealing glances at Shao, laughing under her breath.
"What's so funny?" Siya asked.
"Nothing," Baby replied innocently.
Then she pulled out her test paper.
"I got 15. Zhan scored full marks."
"What about Shao?" Anei asked.
Baby tried to suppress her laughter.
"I don't really know…"
Siya turned to Shao.
"What did you get?"
Shao muttered,
"16."
Baby exploded into laughter.
"That's a lie! She got 3 out of 20...I saw it myself!"
Shao lunged at her instantly, furious.
"You're the liar! You fool!"
The fight broke out in the car until the driver pulled over. Baby was moved to the front seat, but the insults continued all the way home.
The moment they arrived, Shao ran inside crying.
"Mum!" she wailed, collapsing dramatically.
Lihua rushed out.
"What happened?"
Through tears, Shao said,
"They've been calling me illiterate since school. I don't want to be in their class anymore… please move me back to grade 8."
Baby entered the living room, still pouting.
Lihua turned to her sharply.
"Baby, what is your problem with your cousin?"
Baby crossed her arms.
"She started it. She attacked me just because she scored 3 out of 20. I didn't even mark her paper!"
Lihua said nothing. She pulled Shao into the room and shut the door.
Inside, her voice turned cold.
"3 out of 20?"
Shao pouted.
"The questions were hard."
"What did Baby get?"
"15."
"And that boy?"
Shao hesitated.
"He got everything right… and they said they'll show Yibo-ge so he can buy them something."
Lihua's face darkened.
"So you went to school before… and this is what you bring back?"
Shao burst into tears.
Lihua bit her finger, thinking deeply. Then she said quietly,
"Go and bring me his test paper."
Moments later, Shao sneaked into Baby's room. Seeing no one there, she opened Zhan's bag, took his test paper, and brought it back.
Lihua tore it into pieces without hesitation.
She walked to the window and threw it outside.
"Go and take your bath," she said calmly.
Shao left, satisfied.
That evening, Zhan searched everywhere for his paper...but couldn't find it.
Baby stood beside him.
"I'm sure Shao took it," she said. "She's been jealous since school."
Without waiting, she ran upstairs to Yibo's room.
She told him everything.
Yibo said nothing.
He simply looked at her… silently.
💚💙❤🖤