“Even if she married the Jade Emperor himself, I’d still be her father! Seems like she’s itching for another beating! Ever since her uncle showed up, she’s forgotten who she really is!”
“I even prepared everything to bring her home for her postpartum recovery—we’d agreed on it! How could she suddenly change her mind?”
“If she has a problem with me, why not say it to my face? Why take it out on Liya instead?”
“Hitting Liya’s legs, of all places! Thank heavens it wasn’t serious, but Liya’s a dancer—Zhiqiu knows how important legs are to a dancer!”
“What did I do to make her hate me so much? Does she want to ruin Liya’s life?”
Wang Fengqin sobbed against Shen Daqiang’s shoulder. “Husband, don’t say I’m nagging, but Zhiqiu is truly heartless! If she dares to hit Liya today, will she come after me next? She won’t rest until she drives me and Liya out of this house!”
“She wouldn’t dare! This household is mine to rule—she’ll never call the shots here, not even over my dead body!”
Shen Daqiang patted Wang Fengqin’s shoulder. “Stop crying. Let’s go check on Liya.”
When they entered Shen Liya’s hospital room and saw her pitiful state, Wang Fengqin gritted her teeth in fury. “Husband, I’m not stirring trouble, but Liya didn’t deserve this beating. At the very least, Zhiqiu owes us an explanation.”
“If Liya was truly at fault, I’d drag her to kneel and kowtow to Zhiqiu right now. But if she wasn’t… then Zhiqiu has gone too far in bullying us!”
“Even a clay man has a trace of temper. You’ve seen how I’ve treated Zhiqiu all these years—I never asked for her gratitude, but this is outright spite!”
“I know, I know. You and Liya have suffered.”
Shen Daqiang’s face darkened, his eyes burning with hatred. “She’s just like her mother—a thankless little wretch! I should’ve tossed her into the mountains for the wolves when her mother died!”
Wang Fengqin nudged Shen Liya. “Liya, tell your father why Shen Zhiqiu beat you. What did you do to provoke her?”
Of course, Shen Liya couldn’t admit the truth—that she’d claimed to also be Shen Daqiang’s biological daughter, triggering Zhiqiu’s rage. She had a hunch that confessing would only earn her another beating.
Luckily, she’d prepared a lie in advance. Blaming Zhiqiu was always the safest bet—her parents would take her side anyway.
But a mother knows her child best. While Shen Daqiang believed Liya’s story, Wang Fengqin wasn’t fooled.
Once Shen Daqiang left, Wang Fengqin pinched Shen Liya’s arm hard. “You little brat, tell me the truth—why did Shen Zhiqiu hit you?”
Shen Liya’s eyes darted as she concocted a new excuse. “She found out I was trying to seduce Yue Mingyuan.”
“You idiot! Why would you let her know before you succeeded?”
Wang Fengqin pinched her again, exasperated. “All my teachings wasted on you!”
“Mom, it’s not my fault! Yue Mingyuan is a block of wood!”
The memory of him pouring water over her head made Shen Liya’s chest burn with anger. She punched the hospital blanket. “No—he’s not wood, he’s a rock! A stinking, stubborn rock!”
“So what if he’s a rock? You’re just not skilled enough. Listen—there isn’t a man alive who doesn’t stray.”
Wang Fengqin patted her daughter’s hand. “You’ve got a long way to go before you match your mother’s expertise.”
“By the way, did you give that little outfit to Shen Zhiqiu? Did that little wretch wear it?”
This was another topic Shen Liya couldn’t answer truthfully. She nodded quickly. “Yeah, I gave it to her.”
“At first, she refused to put it on the brat, but then Chen Can scolded her about being unfilial, so she caved.”
Afraid her mother would see through the lie, Shen Liya hastily changed the subject.
“Mom, I think Shen Zhiqiu still has feelings for Chen Can… and I think he’s still into her too.”
“He keeps bringing her up these days—it’s driving me crazy.” She twisted the blanket, venting her frustration.
“Why worry? You’re Chen Can’s lawful wife now. If Shen Zhiqiu still wants him, even better!”
“Let the Yue family see her for the fickle slut she is. Once Yue Mingyuan finds out she’s pining for Chen Can, do you think he’ll tolerate it? He’ll dump her on the spot!”
“Then you can take your pick—stay with Chen Can or go after Yue Mingyuan. Though I’d prefer the latter. The Yue family outranks the Chens. Yue Mingyuan’s father is still in power, while Chen Can’s father is dead—his career won’t go far.”
Wang Fengqin analyzed coldly. “Even if you divorce Chen Can, you’ll always share a son. He’ll have to help you if you need it.”
“But Shen Zhiqiu only had a daughter. Families like the Yues might pretend otherwise, but deep down, they only value sons!”
This point baffled Shen Liya. “Mom, the Yue family dotes on that little wretch.”
So much it makes me sick with jealousy!
“Dotes on her?” Wang Fengqin sneered. “If they truly loved her, would they name her ‘Bean Sprout’? ‘Yaya’—sounds like a sickly thing that won’t live long.”
“Just wait. I doubt that brat will even survive her first month. Names carry fate, and hers is cursed.” Her eyes glinted with malice.
Once that little wretch wore the outfit, her good fortune would transfer to Wang Fengqin within a week. Soon after, the child would grow frail and die young.
“Good riddance! Once she’s dead, I can marry Yue Mingyuan in peace. A stepkid would’ve been unbearable—especially that freakish brat.”
Shen Liya shuddered. “Everyone else can hold her just fine, but the moment we get close, she wails like her mother died!”
Wang Fengqin found this odd too, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was stealing the child’s luck—ensuring longevity, wealth, and a bright future for her precious son.
…
Time flew, and soon, Yaya was nearing her one-month milestone.
The Yue family gathered to plan her full-moon banquet.
Yue Guohuai turned to Yue Mingyuan and Shen Zhiqiu. “Mingyuan, Zhiqiu, what are your thoughts?”
After exchanging a glance with Zhiqiu, Mingyuan replied, “Dad, we’ve discussed it. Since Yaya’s still little, we’d prefer an intimate celebration—just a few tables at home for close friends and family.”
“Then we’ll set up five or six tables. Invite whoever you’d like. As for me—” Yue Guohuai grinned smugly, “—I’m bringing Old Huo, Old Ling, and the rest. Those old coots need to see what I’ve got!”
