Chapter 2

I was leaving soon. Why would I care about their family photograph?

Seeing that I meant it, Jin’an sighed in relief and moved to embrace me.

Just then, my parents came in carrying bags of supplies.

My mother was muttering.

“Pregnancy complications are no joke. I asked a traditional medicine doctor. Shushu needs proper nourishment. We can’t neglect a thing.”

“From now on, I’ll make you nourishing soup every day.”

Yunshu nestled close.

“Mom, you’ll work too hard. I’ll feel awful. Besides, the doctor said I’m fine.”

My mother looked serious.

“No! Have you forgotten your sister’s first baby? She didn’t rest properly and miscarried. She suffered so much. I won’t let that happen to you…”

She looked up.

At the sight of me, she stopped abruptly.

I met her eyes.

Back then, I’d discovered evidence of Jin’an’s affair. I was suspicious every day and physically worn down.

My mother had never shown the slightest concern. She only scolded me for baseless jealousy and told me not to damage my marriage.

Even after I miscarried in my distress, she never visited once.

I’d comforted myself: perhaps she didn’t know. Perhaps she was busy.

But that wasn’t it.

I wasn’t Yunshu.

So she wouldn’t rise at four a.m. to make nourishing soup for me.

She wouldn’t endure the stench of raising chickens in the yard for my sake, either, just to give Yunshu the freshest food.

The room went still.

Jin’an approached, about to soothe me.

Before he spoke, my phone rang.

My assistant sounded urgent.

“Chunian, there’s a major problem with a project. We need you here quickly!”

“I’ll drive you,” Jin’an said at once.

Yunshu called him.

“Jin’an, the baby’s crib is here. I can’t assemble it. Come and help me.”

He instinctively turned.

I didn’t wait. I headed for the door.

4

I hurried to the studio.

There was no project problem at all.

Lin Qian threw a folder onto the table.

“Niannian, I founded this studio. I know you’ve worked hard, but I’m back now. You need to return it to me.”

Looking down at the folder, I asked, “Why do you suddenly want it back?”

She had disappeared for five years without taking any part in running it.

She looked uncomfortable, but still answered.

“Shushu is proud. She’s afraid of damaging your relationship with Jin’an, so she won’t take his money. She won’t take mine or your parents’ either.”

“But having a baby and raising it costs money. This is the only way I can give her some.”

I looked at her and saw a stranger.

Five years ago, after her death, I’d spent my days consumed by guilt and grief.

But the studio had been our shared endeavor. Expanding it had always been her dream.

So I’d forced myself to recover and carry on.

However hard it became, however much money we lost, I never considered giving up.

While I drank myself into a stomach hemorrhage working for this studio, she and Jin’an were by Yunshu’s side.

Now that I had finally exhausted myself getting the business on track, she wanted it back.

To give to Yunshu.

My silence made her think I wouldn’t agree. Her face changed immediately.

“I have to give Shushu enough to support herself. We were best friends, Niannian. I don’t want this to turn ugly. But if you refuse, I’ll have to use other means.”

Once, she’d known my parents favored Yunshu.

She’d known how Yunshu pretended to be helpless to steal things from me.

She had held me and promised that, whatever happened, she would always be on my side.

Now she was on Yunshu’s side too.

I gave a self-mocking smile.

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll return it.”

The assistant quickly brought an agreement.

I carefully signed my name.

Lin Qian wanted to say something, but I didn’t look at her again.

I turned and left.

A few days later, clients began calling one after another.

They said the latest batch of products failed to meet the delivery standards and demanded to know why I’d cut corners on materials.

I rubbed between my brows.

“I’ve left the studio. Take any problems to Xu Yunshu and Lin Qian.”

The caller was furious.

“Of course I contacted them! They said you were responsible for these products before withdrawing, and it has nothing to do with them!”