Chapter 1
Edward Quan ·
An award-winning actor and I joined a reality show where we swapped children for seven days: my four-year-old daughter went to stay with him, and his four-year-old son stayed with me.
Seven days later, his son clung to my leg and refused to go home.
“Auntie Ning, I wish you were my mommy.”
My daughter wouldn't let go of the actor's neck either.
“Uncle Fu, can you be my daddy?”
That night, Fu Yanzhou and I became the scandal of the moment. People were digging so deep into our past they were practically unearthing eighteen generations of our ancestors.
The paparazzi revealed that I was the ex-wife he'd married in secret—and that the two children were the twins I'd given birth to.
01
“Auntie Ning, why does Ningning have a mommy and I don't?”
Four-year-old Fu Qi'an looked up at me with round eyes, his little face full of grievance.
My heart nearly melted.
I wanted so badly to tell him, I'm your mommy.
But I couldn't. When Fu Yanzhou and I divorced, we signed an agreement not to reveal our former relationship.
We each took care of one child. Occasionally, we would slip over to the other's home and quietly watch the children sleep.
Now we were taking part in a child-swap reality show together.
Everything I said and did was being broadcast live.
I glanced at the livestream comments projected on the wall.
Sympathy flooded the screen.
“Poor Qi'an. He's never even met his mother.”
“How can a mother be so cruel?”
“Who could abandon such an adorable child?”
“Doesn't Fu Yanzhou have a girlfriend? A stepmother is still a mother!”
…
I hugged Qi'an and stroked his head.
“Who says you don't have a mommy? For the next seven days, I'll be your mommy. How does that sound?”
He nestled against me, sniffed at my collar, and said in a husky little voice, “Auntie Ning, you smell like my mommy. Can I call you Mommy from now on?”
“Of course. Go to sleep now. Tomorrow I'll take you to the amusement park.”
I patted his back, soothing him.
“Tell me a bedtime story! I want a fairy tale!”
“All right,” I answered softly. “I'll tell you one.”
…
Before long, his breathing grew slow and even.
Once he was sound asleep, I slipped out and glanced at the comments on the wall.
“Ning Wanning is so calculating! Is she coaxing Qi'an into calling her Mommy?”
“Exactly. Wen Tang is Fu Yanzhou's real girlfriend. I hear they're getting married soon. If he's going to call anyone Mommy, it should be her!”
“Is Ning Wanning that desperate to ride his coattails? Does she know her place in the industry? He's miles above her.”
“She isn't even fit to carry his shoes!”
“Ning Wanning, stay away from my husband!!!”
I ignored the mockery.
Fu Yanzhou was the most sought-after actor in the industry.
I was a nobody, barely even a sixth-tier actress.
His fans always thought I wanted to use his fame to climb higher.
Honestly, nothing was more beneath me.
02
I went to the living room and video-called Fu Yanzhou.
Ningning was with him. His side was being livestreamed too.
When the call connected, he handed her the phone.
“Ningning, talk to your mommy.”
“Mommy!” she called sweetly. “Uncle Fu has so many dolls! He says he got them just for me. I really like him.”
As she spoke, she turned the phone toward the bed piled high with dolls behind her, proudly showing me.
Then she added, “Mommy, I want Uncle Fu to be my daddy. Can you two get married?”
The screen erupted again.
“What kind of mother teaches her child to say that? Ningning is such a fool. Only four, and already being used by her mother.”
“Ning Wanning definitely taught her that. If she can't get him the normal way, she'll use the children. Shameless.”
“Kids say what they think. I find Ningning pretty cute.”
“She grew up without a father's love. He's spoiling her so much, of course she'd want him to be her dad.”
Embarrassed, I said, “Ningning, Uncle Fu already has a girlfriend. You mustn't say that again.”
She pouted. “I don't care. I want him to be my daddy.”
Then she crawled into his arms, lifted her face, and announced, “Uncle Fu, my birthday is in five days. Can I make my wish early? I want you to be my daddy.”
He stroked her little face.
“All right. I'll be your daddy for now. Be a good girl. What would you like for your birthday? Daddy will buy it.”
Snuggled against him, she began wheedling.
“I don't want presents. I want Mommy and Daddy to take me to the seaside. And I want to stay in a treehouse hotel and catch little crabs with you.”
He looked every inch a doting father.
“All right, Ningning. Everything you've asked for.”
“You're the best, Daddy. I love you.”
She puckered up, kissed his cheek, and made a little heart for him.
The comments started fighting again.
“Ningning is so annoying. Just like her mother, always chasing clout.”
“They're going to the beach? Ning Wanning obviously wants a trip with him, so she's made her daughter ask.”
“Don't get mixed up with those two, Fu Yanzhou! If you want a daughter, have one with Wen Tang.”
“Fu Yanzhou and Wen Tang forever!”
“Their daughter would be gorgeous. I can't wait!”
…
While the viewers argued, Fu Yanzhou soothed Ningning to sleep.
Our video call had remained connected the whole time.
When he was done, I said, “I'm taking Qi'an to the amusement park tomorrow. Why don't you bring Ningning?”
He was silent for a moment before answering slowly.
“I have plans tomorrow.”
“With whom?” I was a little disappointed.
It wasn't that I wanted to see him.
I only wanted Qi'an and Ningning to visit the amusement park together, openly.
“Wen Tang.”
To be honest, I felt let down.
“Are you taking Ningning to meet her?”
“Is there a problem?”
“No. Let's hang up.”
I ended the video call.
One glance at the screen confirmed it: I was being mocked again.
“Was she jealous just now? What right does she have to be jealous of Wen Tang?”
“Who does she think she is? It's a seven-day child-swap show, and she's acting like his wife.”
“She looked as though he'd betrayed her.”
“She's definitely interested in him and trying to use her daughter to become his girlfriend. As if she has a chance.”
03
Eight o'clock the next morning.
I got up early to make Qi'an breakfast, then went to wake him.
“Qi'an, time to get up. I've made your favorite vegetable egg pancakes and milk rice cakes.”
He reached out from under the quilt for my arm.
His sleepy eyes opened.
“Mommy, how do you know those are my favorites? Did Daddy tell you?”
“Yes, he did. Come on. Let's see whether you like my cooking.”
I lifted him from bed and dressed him.
Over the past few years, I had often made breakfast at home and had a driver take it to Fu Yanzhou's house for Qi'an.
I had carefully chosen every item of clothing he wore.
I hadn't been entirely absent from his childhood.
Once he was dressed, I led him to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.
He watched me curiously as he brushed, while I put on makeup at the mirror.
I bent to fold the pajamas he had left at the head of the bed.
A moment later, he asked, “Mommy, why do you have the same razor as Daddy? Is that his?”
Something felt very wrong. I hurried over and put the razor away.
“Daddy has one like this too? What a coincidence.”
It was, in fact, Fu Yanzhou's.
For years he had often come late at night to visit Ningning. Sometimes, if it was too late, he stayed over.
There was a second bedroom in my home kept for him. It had no en suite bathroom, so he washed and shaved in the master bathroom in the morning.
The razor had been in the drawer beneath the basin. I hadn't expected Qi'an to find it.
My explanation about a coincidence was for the viewers watching through the cameras.
They were, indeed, discussing the razor.
“A razor in Ning Wanning's bathroom? She's definitely not single.”
“How embarrassing. Playing the single mother and getting caught with a lover.”
“Hang on, there's an identical razor in Fu Yanzhou's bathroom. Same brand, same model, same color.”
“Wait. Isn't that a brand he endorses? If I remember right, this is the custom model they gave their spokesperson.”
“I heard they gave him two identical ones: one to keep at home, one to take on location.”
“So that razor is his???”
…