Zhang Fenglan took a bite of the fish and nodded. “Mm, this tastes pretty good. You’ve improved.”
“Really? Then try this beef quickly. It’s very tender—I stewed it extra soft on purpose.”
“This one’s no good; it’s a bit tough. All my teeth are falling out—how am I supposed to eat it?”
“Fine, then Mom, just eat the soft stuff over there. It’s not spicy either; it suits your taste.”
“Alright, leave it there. I’ll eat it later.”
Watching this mother and son duo echo each other perfectly, completely ignoring her words, it felt like she was performing a one-woman show all by herself.
Yang Ying’s face flushed red then pale with anger, feeling a stifled breath she couldn’t let out. Finally, she turned directly to Zhang Fenglan. “Mom, why don’t you say something? She’s the only one who listens to you. No matter how busy she is, she can’t possibly not have time to come home for New Year’s Eve dinner. Disappearing without a word—is that acceptable?”
“Didn’t she tell you? How did it become ‘without a word’ in your mouth?” Zhang Fenglan wasn’t buying Yang Ying’s act at all.
A thousand-year daughter-in-law turns into a mother-in-law; she wasn’t so easily swayed by whispers in her ear.
Yang Ying choked for a moment but quickly latched onto Grandma’s words to continue. “She just called me saying she wasn’t coming back and didn’t even say where she was going. Now I can’t even get through to her phone—isn’t that ‘without a word’? Does she even have any regard for me as her biological mom anymore?”
Zhang Fenglan picked up a piece of meat, slowly sipping her soup. It was a long while before she replied to Yang Ying. “The child’s grown up and has her own ideas. All we can do is support her, not try to control her life.”
Besides, Ji Zhenshi was clearly the type with a strong will. When the two of them clashed, it was needle-point to wheat-awl—how could they coexist peacefully?
“Support? Like giving her money like Li Yunli does, letting her do whatever she wants? But isn’t it obvious now? That’s just making Ji Zhenshi more and more entitled, turning her into an ungrateful wretch in the end.” Yang Ying retorted.
A displeased expression appeared on Zhang Fenglan’s kindly face. She frowned and said, “When did Yunli ever give her money to do whatever she wants? Don’t you know that Xiao Zhen does part-time jobs on weekends? She’s far more independent than you imagine. And Xiao Zhen will be 23 after the New Year—she’s not three years old. I can’t control her, and she’s no ungrateful wretch here with me. Our Xiao Zhen is very filial; it’s just that you all have always been biased against her.”
When she was around, they nitpicked everything about her, saying she didn’t act like a proper girl, always calling her unruly.
Now that Ji Zhenshi wasn’t coming home, they wouldn’t let it go.
It was the true portrait of a certain type of controlling modern mother—hard to break their ingrained mindset, passed down from their own mothers.
But with the changing times, more people like Ji Zhenshi would emerge.
Without thinking, Yang Ying shot back, “What bias? I’ve barely seen her a handful of times this year—how could I control her? Am I wrong as her mom to want her home for New Year’s?”
She always came across as aggressive when anxious.
Fortunately, Zhang Fenglan was long used to it and didn’t take her outburst to heart.
“Yang Ying, let me remind you: the current situation isn’t Xiao Zhen’s fault alone.”
Ji Zhenshi might not even be wrong at all. She just had her own independent thoughts and had awakened early. She decisively rebelled against all of Yang Ying’s unreasonable control, firmly choosing her own path.
She had the right to choose her own life, and Zhang Fenglan would support her unwaveringly.
Feeling guilty, Yang Ying involuntarily raised her voice. “No matter what, I’m still her mom! That’s an unchangeable fact. Mom, even if you protect her, you have to understand: if someone can’t even follow basic rules, they’re just a cold-blooded animal. I don’t want Ji Zhenshi to become that kind of person. She’s grown up now—I can’t stop her from playing the violin, but she absolutely can’t be so irresponsible and undisciplined. That would ruin her!”
“You spoiled her so much before, and a big part of why she’s like this is your indulgence. And that Li Yunli—I don’t understand her mentality. She actually supported Ji Zhenshi going to music academy, even taking her to the principal to change her major. Not only is she mute, does she have something wrong with her brain too? You two spoiled Ji Zhenshi into what she is now! No manners! Arrogant and disrespectful!”
“That’s enough!” Ji Yuancheng finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up. “Does the New Year really not go on without Ji Zhenshi here?”
She was barely more than background noise when she was home anyway, sometimes even stirring up awkward tension with her rebellious retorts.
What was this now?
Acting like the family couldn’t survive without her—it was absurd, almost laughable when he thought about it.
“Ji Yuancheng, so you’re not mute after all? You can actually speak? All these years, I thought you were just a useless mute.” Yang Ying’s eyes flashed with surprise, but she quickly fired back. “Ji Yuancheng, have you forgotten? Ji Zhenshi hates you just as much. As a father, you’re way more hateful to her than I am.”
Yang Ying’s momentum had always been fierce; now that Ji Yuancheng had spoken, she finally had a real outlet.
Zhang Fenglan quickly set down her bowl and chopsticks and returned to her room to turn on the TV for the Spring Festival Gala. Ji Tingjun had already eaten a couple of bites casually and gone out to hang with his thug friends for some fun.
That left only Ji Yuancheng at the table to bear Yang Ying’s wrath.
Ji Yuancheng’s face darkened. After that one sentence, he seemed at a loss for how to respond to Yang Ying’s accusations.
Yeah, a father who’d always been invisible—Ji Zhenshi must have been endlessly disappointed in him, eventually even hating him.
This family had always been dysfunctional; no one was a thoroughly good person.
“Maybe ‘hate’ is a bit strong, but you carry the same weight in her heart as I do, Ji Yuancheng. She’s the type who looks down on everyone; she won’t see you as her father. So you’d better stay your mute self forever—best to be an invisible mute. After all, you’re not even as good as Li Yunli, the real mute.”
Yang Ying landed another heavy blow on Ji Yuancheng, telling him not to interfere in Ji Zhenshi’s affairs—or rather, stripping him of any say in the family’s decisions.
In this house, she was the ultimate authority.
A cowardly look reappeared on Ji Yuancheng’s face, as if from years of keeping his head down, he couldn’t hold it high at work or home anymore.
He let out a long sigh. “You’re not wrong about that.”
He really wasn’t even as good as Li Yunli, the real mute. At least in Ji Zhenshi’s education, Li Yunli had succeeded brilliantly. Ji Zhenshi only listened to her. Apart from being prickly at home, her manners and work ethic outside gave them all face.
He had to admit, Li Yunli had shaped Ji Zhenshi masterfully during key stages of her life—preserving her original personality while reining in that soul of hers that kept crossing red lines.
If Li Yunli had a child, she’d probably be a truly qualified mother.
At least… better than Yang Ying.
Yang Ying should actually thank her, shouldn’t she?
“Ji Yuancheng, you can’t control her and don’t even think about trying, but in a family, someone has to keep her in check. I won’t let it slide.” Yang Ying picked up her chopsticks and commanded, “Continue eating!”
Ji Yuancheng glared at her. Eat what dinner? The whole family was in a bad mood because of her, but she had the appetite?
He frowned. “Then go control her yourself. See what you can do. She’s never been one to obey from childhood—you insist on clashing head-on with her. You’ll learn your lesson when you hit a brick wall.”
Ji Zhenshi was harder to handle than Ji Tingjun. She wouldn’t submit to anyone deep down, while Ji Tingjun would back off when facing someone stronger.
“I’m her mom—that’s something I can say until the day I die.” Yang Ying declared.
Ji Yuancheng slammed down his bowl and chopsticks and stood up. “I can’t reason with you.”
Yang Ying, now in a better mood, said leisurely, “Where are you going? You’ll have to wash the dishes later.”
“Wash what dishes? Let your son do it.”
“I want her dad to wash them. Ji Yuancheng, stop going drinking with your buddies. Don’t think I don’t know.”
“…”
…
At the start of the lunar new year, Ji Zhenshi and Li Yunli had already left the hotel, heading to southern Sichuan to see the Flower Mountain Festival of the ethnic minorities. It was usually held on the first day of the new year and lasted several days.
They were going right on time.
On the high-speed train, Ji Zhenshi curled up in her seat, head pillowed on Li Yunli’s thigh, playing on her phone while accepting feeds from the idle Li Yunli.
The crisp sound of potato chips crunching filled the air. Ji Zhenshi wagged a finger, and Li Yunli knew she wanted milk tea, silently handing it over without a word.
Looking at her jawline, which had gained some flesh after sticking with her these past days, Li Yunli’s eyes were full of tenderness. Her fingertips traced along it, satisfied that she’d plumped up Xiao Zhen a bit.
Being loved makes one grow flesh and blood.
She could feel that Ji Zhenshi wasn’t just gaining weight these days with her—she was visibly happier, more relaxed every day.
That was what Li Yunli hoped to see. As long as Xiao Zhen was happier with her, that was enough.
“Teacher Tang recommended this place. She saw me watching a video that day and casually suggested it. If she recommends it, it should be fun, right?” Ji Zhenshi swallowed her milk tea, turning sideways to lie on her back and watch Li Yunli’s upcoming sign language.
Li Yunli looked down, wiping chip crumbs from the corner of Ji Zhenshi’s mouth, signing warmly, Xiao Zhen just wants to play.
“No way—it’s because Teacher Tang said there’s horse racing there too. I’m really looking forward to it.” Ji Zhenshi rubbed her fists excitedly.
Li Yunli’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. No.
Ji Zhenshi blinked. “Why?”
Because they’re all professionals. You haven’t ridden before, and many of those horses there aren’t professionally trained. As a stranger, it’s easy to get hurt—even with a pro guiding you, no. No one can guarantee no accidents. After the New Year, you’ll have performances with Teacher Tang—you can’t get injured. That’s what I promised her. It can’t affect your work, so no.
“But I want to.”
No.
On matters of Ji Zhenshi’s safety, Li Yunli was always firm.
They stared at each other for two seconds. Ji Zhenshi sullenly turned her head away, refusing to look at Li Yunli’s signing and rejecting communication. Then she mumbled, “Fine, no playing then. Can I go to an amusement park and ride the carousel instead? I’m mad now!”
Arms crossed, Ji Zhenshi stubbornly refused Li Yunli’s feeding.
Li Yunli didn’t get annoyed. She leaned to her ear, blew gently, turned her head back, and when she leaned in closer, her mouth replaced her hand.
Mouth-to-mouth feeding of potato chips—Ji Zhenshi couldn’t resist at all, her mouth corners curving wildly upward.
Her tsundere look, arrogant yet unable to hide her smile, was especially cute. Li Yunli cupped her face and kissed her. Good child, don’t be mad, okay?
Ji Zhenshi caved spinelessly. “Okay…”
One soft word from big sis, and Ji Zhenshi compromised without principles.
Horse racing? Where was that as sweet as big sis’s kiss? And Li Yunli didn’t even like these snacks—she hated greasy chips. Many times when Ji Zhenshi teased her to eat some, she’d refuse.
But she’d eat them just to coax her. Ji Zhenshi felt the chips in her mouth tasted even better than before.
“I’m doing this for your safety too. That sport has too many unknown risks—you’ve never tried it, so I’m worried. Many accidents are uncontrollable; no one knows what might happen. The best way is not to do it.”
Xiao Zhen, you make a living with these hands, so I’ll restrict a lot of your activities. Be good—you know I’m thinking of you, right?
I don’t want you unhappy. If you really like horse riding, when we get back to Beinan, I’ll take you to a professional equestrian club to learn, okay?
Li Yunli looked down, her eyes always filled with deep affection for Ji Zhenshi.
Even though Ji Zhenshi had already compromised, she still explained, telling her to be good, even worrying about curbing something she was excited for—so she offered an alternative.
Ji Zhenshi was immersed in Li Yunli’s tenderness. Seeing the explanation, she shrugged indifferently. “It’s fine, no big deal. I know Sister A-Yun is doing it for my own good. It’s so dangerous anyway—we won’t do it. We’ll just go experience their ethnic culture. It’s a trip to have fun, only a few days, so I don’t want any unhappy memories from it.”
That was the difference between Li Yunli and Yang Ying.
Both restricted her activities and didn’t want her doing what she liked, but Li Yunli would explain even after Ji Zhenshi had given in, avoiding any rift, respecting her thoughts.
Ji Zhenshi’s feelings were always prioritized.
“But Sister A-Yun, I liked that way of eating chips earlier. Can you feed me once more? One more time and I won’t be mad, okay?” Ji Zhenshi was distracted, her mind still on the bliss of Li Yunli’s earlier coaxing method.
She really wanted “import chips”—they tasted better that way.
Pinching her chubby earlobe, Li Yunli could tell from her expression she wasn’t really mad. She shook her head, refusing her pouty request for more snacks. No more.
The greasiness of the chips lingered on her lips; she didn’t like them.
The next second, Ji Zhenshi sat up straight, looking at Li Yunli dissatisfied. “I want more. Sister A-Yun, why no sincerity in coaxing me? Just once—zero sincerity.”
She shouldn’t have caved so fast—spineless and no import chips.
Li Yunli touched her belly; her waist still had abs, but it felt softer.
She smiled teasingly. “Good child, any more and no more abs. Didn’t you work so hard to maintain them? Soon you’ll have none left—won’t Xiao Zhen get muscle weakness easier then?”
“Huh? Really?” Ji Zhenshi jolted upright, lifting her shirt to check.
They were there—clearly still four blocks.
Though she had to admit she’d been indulgent lately, with the numbers on the scale too lenient, she’d trained so long to attract Li Yunli—she couldn’t lose them easily.
No abs, and Sister A-Yun wouldn’t crave her body anymore.
Seeing this, Li Yunli’s smile faded. She quickly pulled down her shirt, patted the hem, and gave Ji Zhenshi a clear glare. No.
In public, and Ji Zhenshi didn’t care about others seeing.
Li Yunli glanced around, relieved no one noticed, and relaxed.
Naughty Xiao Zhen—didn’t she know such places were for lovers’ private moments? Her abs were already their shared property now—not for others to see, only her.
Ji Zhenshi buried her head in Li Yunli’s chest, pretending to cry. “Wahhh, big sis, without abs you won’t love me anymore, right?”
