Chapter 21: Number One in the World

However, Nian Zhi’an’s preparations had not even begun when she encountered a small hiccup.

Ever since that day’s “little” mishap, Mu Yixuan’s attitude had become rather peculiar.

Perhaps “peculiar” wasn’t even the word to describe the tangle in Nian Zhi’an’s heart. After all, anyone who discovered that their former arch-nemesis—the aloof beauty—had suddenly started seeking extra closeness would inevitably feel a chill run down their spine.

“Good morning, Auntie! Good morning, Teacher!” Only the little girl in the house remained oblivious to the shift in atmosphere. She came running out in her slippers, clacking noisily across the floor, and planted a good morning kiss on her aunt—that was a habit she’d picked up from her mom.

Mu Yixuan noticed Nian Zhi’an’s dazed expression. After pondering for a moment, she smiled faintly. “Does Little Guo Teacher want a good morning kiss too?”

“……！！！” Nian Zhi’an froze for a second, her gaze involuntarily dropping to Mu Yixuan’s lips, which had regained some color. In the next instant, she recoiled several steps in horror.

“No, no, no…”

“The teacher’s shy!” The child had somehow learned this perfectly savage line and dissolved into giggles afterward.

!!! This brat! Next time, she’d find some excuse to give her a good spanking! Nian Zhi’an’s face burned as if it could fry an egg, but she absolutely refused to admit she was shy!

Mu Yixuan knew when to stop. She seemed aware that any more teasing would provoke the other woman into flustered anger. So she picked up Mu Tiantian’s little backpack and said, “I’ll drop Tiantian off at her Go lesson first. Tiantian, say goodbye to the teacher.”

“Bye, Teacher!” The little girl beamed happily. Nian Zhi’an had a sinking feeling that her authority in the child’s eyes had been completely shattered!

“……System, I just feel like something’s off.” Nian Zhi’an felt a stifled breath caught in her chest, neither rising nor falling, while an unfamiliar emotion prickled her all over, leaving her deeply uncomfortable.

Perhaps because she was right in the middle of it all, she simply couldn’t figure out what Mu Yixuan was playing at.

Meanwhile, the little system from the Redemption Department stayed silent for a long while. It had a hunch: Mu Yixuan’s behavior earlier was what people called “flirt and dash.”

Putting together the antagonist’s recent string of “teasing” aimed at their host, the system formed a bold and absurd hypothesis—could Mu Yixuan have fallen for their Great Demon King?!

For the first time, the little system was tantalizingly close to the truth. But when it shared the guess with its host, all it got was a flick on the forehead.

“You forgot Mu Yixuan has someone she likes?”

【Oh yeah, the antagonist does have someone she likes.】 The little system scrapped its earlier theory. At that point, it had no clue what was going on… Wait!

The little system abruptly looked up at the host. The Great Demon King’s face was impassive, but she seemed a little displeased.

No way, no way! Had it gotten it completely backward?!

Then their host was just too pitiful!

“System, I can’t see your expression, but I can sense you’re thinking some rather rude things.” Nian Zhi’an’s shadow loomed over the little system. Under the Great Demon King’s intimidating stare, it immediately purged all its speculations about the host from its programming and fawned, insisting it wouldn’t dare.

“Hmph.” Nian Zhi’an knew better but couldn’t be bothered to argue with the little gadget.

“Anyway, getting serious—have you tracked any movements on Mu Yixuan’s end?”

【Yes, yes!】 The system hastily pulled up its recent intel. 【Right after we set up the male lead that night, the antagonist made her move the next day. The male lead’s company took heavy hits. At this rate, it’ll go bankrupt before long.】

【But once the male lead got out of detention, all the pressure stopped. Guessing the antagonist cut some deal with him. Though now the male lead’s jumped even earlier on that doomed project. Feels like… Host, I’ve got a gut feeling the antagonist seems more anxious than ever.】

Nian Zhi’an fell silent for a moment. The system’s hunch lined up perfectly with her own suspicions; Mu Yixuan did seem off somehow.

Knock knock knock.

A sudden knocking sounded at the door.

【Host, some woman’s knocking outside.】

Strange—who would show up at this hour?

Nian Zhi’an approached the door and peered through the peephole.

“…” Her face fell at once.

【What’s up?】

“A major headache just arrived.” Outside stood an elegantly made-up noblewoman who seemed inherently melancholic, soft and fragile like a dodder vine.

Nian Zhi’an could take down dozens like her with a single punch, but the woman’s identity made her a special case—utterly infuriating yet untouchable.

She was Mu Yixuan’s birth mother, Qian Wanni.

A woman born into luxury but cursed with hopeless love-blindness. She had been lucky, though. For the first few years of marriage, her parents’ indulgence shielded her. Once they passed, her scumbag husband revealed his true nature—but her eldest daughter swiftly matured and stepped in to protect her mother, continuing her grandparents’ role.

Aside from those middle years, Qian Wanni had scarcely known hardship. Nian Zhi’an often wondered if sparing her enough suffering was why she kept causing trouble later on.

She still remembered all too clearly how that scumbag tormented the mother and her daughters. He’d nearly let his pregnant mistress boot them out of the house and had beaten Qian Wanni so badly she almost ended up in the hospital. Yet after a few years, her scars healed, pain forgotten, and a few sweet words from him had her crawling back.

Tsk tsk tsk. Terrifying.

Rather than opening the door rashly, Nian Zhi’an quietly texted Mu Yixuan.

With no reply after so long, Qian Wanni irritably dialed her daughter’s number.

“I’m at your front door.”

“I’m your mother! Yutian’s mother too! Tiantian’s grandma! How can you keep me from seeing them!”

Listening to the shrill voice outside, Nian Zhi’an helplessly tugged at her ear. Mu Yixuan was far too soft-hearted. If it had been her, she’d have forced this woman to endure a spell of hardship with the man she pined for. Hard times strain even devoted couples; imagine for a silver-spoon lady like her? A little ruthlessness, and once the scumbag realized Qian Wanni offered nothing useful, the suffering would come naturally.

Once she’d had her fill of it, she’d finally appreciate how good her daughter had been to her.

Nian Zhi’an wandered in her thoughts for a bit before her phone suddenly rang.

It was Mu Yixuan.

Nian Zhi’an jabbed at her phone in exasperation. She could already guess what was coming.

“Are you home right now?” Mu Yixuan’s voice came through, calm and gentle as ever.

“Yeah, someone I don’t know just knocked. I didn’t dare open up.”

“Let her in. She’s my mother—you don’t need to pay her any mind. Just stay put in your room until I get back…”

At those words “stay put,” Nian Zhi’an inexplicably felt an itch in her ears. She subconsciously pulled the phone away a bit.

“Got it. I’ll let Auntie in right now.” Nian Zhi’an hung up in hasty retreat.

The door finally swung open. The noblewoman’s expression was stormy; someone had clearly been home, forcing her to wait out there all that time. Had she not minded her dignity and refinement, Nian Zhi’an would surely have caught a scolding.

Nian Zhi’an rolled her eyes, intending to retreat to her room as instructed and avoid triggering whatever young lady fit the woman might throw. What if she couldn’t hold her tongue and landed the lady in the hospital?

But while Nian Zhi’an wished to steer clear, Qian Wanni had no intention of letting her.

Qian Wanni settled onto the sofa. Finding not even a glass of hot water waiting soured her mood further. When she spotted the young woman who’d answered the door trying to slip away again, she frowned and called out sharply.

Nian Zhi’an pursed her lips. Clearly, one of them was going to drive the other to an early grave today.

“You’re… one of the students my daughter sponsors, aren’t you?” As an artist, Qian Wanni took great care with her deportment. Even annoyed, she wouldn’t lash out at a stranger.

“Yes, Auntie. I had nowhere to stay, so President Mu kindly took me in.”

“Since she let you live here, I won’t make an issue of it. But surely when an elder arrives, you should at least greet her and pour a glass of water?” Qian Wanni stopped just short of calling Nian Zhi’an ill-mannered outright.

Stay calm, stay calm—this was Mu Yixuan’s mother, whose brain wasn’t quite right, through no fault of her own. Tolerance was key; everyone had a duty to accommodate the differently abled! After reassuring herself, Nian Zhi’an fixed on a bright smile. “Sorry about that. Let me get you some water right away.”

Qian Wanni’s complexion improved now that she finally had something to drink after her morning’s exertions. She rested on the sofa a while before heading into her daughter’s studio.

Yet mere moments later—before Nian Zhi’an could even make her escape—the studio erupted in a massive crash.

Qian Wanni must have lost her composure entirely. She slammed the door and hurled a stack of paintings onto the table with a heavy thud.

Then her gaze, brimming with fury, locked onto Nian Zhi’an. Through gritted teeth, she demanded, “What exactly is your relationship with my daughter?!”

Huh?!

Nian Zhi’an was utterly baffled. The woman’s expression made her look like some homewrecker stealing her daughter. She itched to throw up her hands in innocence.

“Just… your standard sponsor and sponsored student…”

Qian Wanni clearly wasn’t buying it. She flopped angrily onto the sofa, leaving Nian Zhi’an completely thrown.

It wasn’t until Mu Yixuan returned that Qian Wanni swept all the scattered paintings off the table and flung them at her daughter. White sheets fluttered through the air, every single one bearing the image of the same person…

“How did you say it to me?! You said those people were just spreading rumors—I believed you—and then you show me this?!” Qian Wanni trembled as she pointed at Mu Yixuan. “You also said you didn’t like Song Qi’an?! What’s this student then? Don’t think I’m blind!”

Nian Zhi’an: ???!!!

There seemed to be a misunderstanding?

Nian Zhi’an winked and grimaced at Mu Yixuan, signaling her to explain quickly. Her eyes were practically twitching.

However, Mu Yixuan didn’t refute a single word. Instead, she first picked up all the drawings that had fallen to the ground, handling each one with the utmost care. Only then did she stand up and calmly say to her mother, “Yes, I like her.”