Chapter 21: MAMA-21 Part 1

After Sui Yuqian returned, Jian Wanji wasn’t as busy.

To avoid being questioned face-to-face by her friend, after handling the afternoon’s work she went straight to Mi Shanxin’s training institution.

Because Jian Wanji was the rare one-on-one client for the Calligraphy Class, the Receptionist remembered her well. “Did you tell Teacher Mi before coming today?”

The Receptionist handed Jian Wanji a cup of hot tea, asking warmly.

Jian Wanji rarely seemed this lost in thought, giving a perfunctory hum of agreement.

The Receptionist assumed she and Mi Shanxin had arrangements and didn’t ask further.

Mi Shanxin’s calligraphy classes had little pressure. After seeing the little children off, she had to stay behind to wash the tools, checking her phone several times in between—no messages from Jian Wanji.

She did have a moment of doubt, wondering if Jian Wanji would void their contract.

Remembering the old lady she saw at the hospital that day, Mi Shanxin dismissed the worry.

The woman was so old her speech had become muddled, yet her grip on Mi Shanxin’s hand was very firm. Her murky eyes held emotions Mi Shanxin had never felt before.

It seemed she loved Jian Wanji’s biological mother very much.

Mi Shanxin had experience seeing off dying elders, though it varied by person.

Her paternal grandmother had died suddenly, without warning.

Her grandfather’s departure had been prepared; he knew his time was short and had paved the way for Mi Shanxin.

However, Mi Shanxin still hadn’t seen her grandfather one last time because of class.

Jian Wanji’s Grandmother was much older than Mi Shanxin’s grandparents, yet her aged state wasn’t as severe.

Wan Qingqing also had very good teeth, could even eat apples and sugarcane, unlike Mi Shanxin, who lacked the strength even to chew sugarcane and would get migraines from prolonged chewing.

If Jian Wanji took after her grandmother, aside from the delirious state of extreme old age, she would still be a high-energy old lady.

Thinking this, she stepped out of the elevator and very accurately spotted Jian Wanji on the lobby sofa where parents waited for their children.

Even when not in the office, Jian Wanji dressed in a relatively minimalist business style when out. What was less formal were her fluffy bangs and her tone of voice.

Even when it was very cold outside, she wouldn’t wear any down-filled clothes.

Mi Shanxin simply felt good down jackets were too expensive, and cheap padded jackets clumped after washing, far less convenient than hoodies, which also didn’t make rustling friction sounds.

Although Jian Wanji had agreed to Mi Shanxin’s unreasonable request, before the contract was notarized, Mi Shanxin still worried there might be changes.

What if a woman with an eighty-percent resemblance to Jian Wanji’s mother suddenly appeared?

More than the sky-high performance fee, Mi Shanxin feared her limited-term human-shaped x tool would fly away.

“Bye-bye, Teacher Mi~” A lingering student greeted Mi Shanxin. The little one seemed to be a classmate of a girl from another class. That child misheard and made an “Eh?” sound: “Why are you calling the teacher Mickey Mouse?”

Even with this going on, Jian Wanji still hadn’t noticed her. Mi Shanxin felt a bit disappointed.

She deliberately walked right past Jian Wanji. The woman was still lost in thought, hands slightly folded together, the marks of rings still visible—a bit like a model displaying goods.

Mi Shanxin had no choice but to walk back and forth several times. The elementary schoolers arguing over not calling the teacher Mickey Mouse had wandered far away before Jian Wanji finally noticed her. “Student Shanxin.”

Walking back and forth a few times had already tired Mi Shanxin out. Her mask concealed her slight panting.

The girl stopped in front of Jian Wanji, revealing a pair of expressionless black eyes, asking: “You’re not busy today?”

Jian Wanji hummed. “Colleague came back, so some work can be handed off.”

She saw Mi Shanxin carrying that heavy bag, feeling a bit helpless, and extended her hand toward Mi Shanxin, signaling her to hand over the laptop bag.

Mi Shanxin gave it to her. Jian Wanji continued: “I’ll try to minimize work for this period, unless I really can’t get away.”

Mi Shanxin was deeply impressed by her imposing business aura and nodded. “So when do we sign the contract?”

More than money, she cared about the Additional Contract.

Her worsening dark circles and even more listless voice showed her sleep quality was worsening, as if she might faint after walking just a few more steps.

That morning Jian Wanji waited for her at the hospital entrance, and Mi Shanxin had nearly stumbled getting out of the car.

The girl was thin and frail, much like the ribbon string of a balloon, needing someone to hold onto so she wouldn’t float away.

“Now.”

Sui Yuqian’s mockery wasn’t without reason. Jian Wanji had spent a long time psychologically preparing while waiting for Mi Shanxin downstairs.

Perhaps in Mi Shanxin’s eyes, her refusal seemed ridiculous too.

At thirty-nine, she should be sexually experienced. Even if not, she’d seen all kinds of storms—there was no need to resist like this.

Sui Yuqian, who freely shared a large number of technical support videos with her malevolent friend, mocked: Do you have a virginity complex or something?

Of course Jian Wanji didn’t. If equally left with no choice, choosing a mature peer for this kind of thing carried far lower risks than someone like Mi Shanxin.

At least you could confirm mutual benefit and know your place.

Mi Shanxin was too young. Even if more mature than her peers, in Jian Wanji’s eyes she was still a child.

Jian Wanji always felt that the object of a twenty-year-old girl’s serious choice shouldn’t be someone whose age fell into the “old aunt” category in the eyes of elementary schoolers.

“Oh.” Mi Shanxin was satisfied, the mask hiding the upward curve of her lips. The toe of her sneaker bumped Jian Wanji’s expensive leather boots. “Then let’s sign.”

Jian Wanji drove Mi Shanxin to get it notarized. Because the nature of the addendum was truly too improper to present openly, when written into text, it incorporated warm reminders like the doctor’s suggestion to bask in the sun. In black and white, you couldn’t tell the services Jian Wanji needed to provide to Mi Shanxin.

Mi Shanxin did everything without much emotional fluctuation, which only made Jian Wanji seem like a nervous adolescent girl going through Puberty.

On the walk from the Law Firm to the parking lot, Mi Shanxin asked Jian Wanji: “The Lawyer said you’re her senior schoolmate. Are you close with her?”

From knowing her until now, Jian Wanji had showcased many of her acquaintances, covering Private Kitchen, hospital, entertainment companies, and more.

Mi Shanxin’s social circle was very narrow, nearly barren. Combined with Jian Wanji’s impressive company, she couldn’t help but be a little curious.

“Not very close,” Jian Wanji didn’t quite know how to answer Mi Shanxin’s innocent question. “Just okay, say hi when we run into each other, or chat if we meet at gatherings.”

Jian Wanji’s company was also involved in investment work Mi Shanxin didn’t understand, seeming very complicated. Mi Shanxin had little patience to read the introduction, just oh’d, and didn’t ask in detail. Instead, she asked Jian Wanji another question: “Then is Lawyer Chen married?”

“She is.”

“Oh well.”

Jian Wanji vaguely sensed disappointment in those two words. Coupled with Mi Shanxin previously saying she liked Zeng Baian, a preposterous thought suddenly arose in Jian Wanji’s mind. “Student Shanxin.”

Mi Shanxin stopped walking. “What is it?”

She corrected Jian Wanji’s form of address: “Our contract is now in effect. For immersive role experience, you should call me Mama.”

Twenty was not young anymore. Jian Wanji had always looked mature; at twenty, she looked twenty-five or six, same with Zeng Baian. Sui Yuqian, also a Girls’ School classmate, looked much younger, but still not to the extent of Mi Shanxin, who still looked like a high schooler.

Jian Wanji’s deceased mother, Wan Lingling, didn’t have a daughter this mature-looking. At twenty, her childishness hadn’t yet faded, but she was plumper than Mi Shanxin, at least not with such heavy dark circles and unsteady steps.

With Mi Shanxin’s physical state, Jian Wanji feared she might enjoy herself into fainting.

The doctor’s private conversation with her had also considered this issue, hoping Jian Wanji, as her lover, could properly guide her. Even though Jian Wanji tried a thousand explanations, the doctor maintained an attitude of “you’re not young, you should be considerate.”

Jian Wanji had always been eloquent, her debate team back in school sweeping Ning City unbeaten. She rarely experienced being utterly speechless. Perhaps turning forty truly came with a major tribulation—Mi Shanxin was her nemesis.

Because she was too young, thin, and pale, Jian Wanji couldn’t even get angry at her.

Besides, she was the one who recruited her.

Feeling stifled at the moment, Jian Wanji regained her cheeky grin after a few seconds, going along with Mi Shanxin’s requested immersion as she spoke: “Then can I ask Mama a question?”

Mi Shanxin put on a staid, solemn demeanor, humming in acknowledgment. “Go ahead and ask, Baby.”

“Don’t call me that,” Jian Wanji got goosebumps. “Even immersion has to have boundaries. How am I a baby at my age?”

Unfortunately, the female college student gave her no room to refuse, her reasoning extremely stubborn: “The contract says improvisation based on reference materials is allowed. Isn’t it very normal for a mama to call her daughter Baby?”

Jian Wanji realized that although Mi Shanxin wasn’t particularly talkative, if it came to an argument, her chances of winning were high.

She didn’t argue with her, continuing her topic. “Is your kink married women?”

The term “Married Woman” stuck in Jian Wanji’s throat. She was too embarrassed to say it, always jumping to other adult-themed late-night scenarios.

A twenty-year age gap, some generation gaps were normal. Someone like Sui Yuqian in her generation had once dated this type, checking all three ATM letters and still getting dumped.

Mi Shanxin’s physical stamina wasn’t even up to Sui Yuqian back then. Jian Wanji feared she’d get a headache and faint from the noise of a married woman’s child.

“Not allowed?” Mi Shanxin shot back. She could already recognize Jian Wanji’s car and gestured for her to unlock the door.

Clearly it was unlocked, yet she still needed her adult daughter to open the door for her. Jian Wanji had to respect the elderly and care for the young, watching Mi Shanxin sit inside before saying: “Allowed.”

Once in the car, Jian Wanji still couldn’t help grumbling: “And yet you slandered me for doing this kind of thing. The pot calling the kettle black?”

The Little Mother fastening her seatbelt said: “I just simply like this type.”

Jian Wanji was relieved. “That’s for the best. I’m not a married woman, nor a child.”

“Right now, you are my precious daughter.”