The family was eating in the dining room when Jiang Jinluo, seated at the head of the table, suddenly spoke.
“Ning Huan’s child will be coming over soon. Her parents were kind to me, so darling, please take good care of her.”
“Yes, I know.”
With a clang, Jun Jiuli’s bowl dropped to the floor. Jiang Jinluo frowned but said nothing. Jiang Hanzhen had someone come to clean it up.
Only Fang Wei looked over with worried concern. "Qingqing, are you hurt?"
Jun Jiuli shook her head and stood up, letting someone clean up. "Mom, I'm fine. I was just spacing out and wasn't paying attention."
"It's good that you're fine. It's good."
Jiang Jinluo: "Be more careful next time. You're all grown up, yet still so clumsy."
"Alright, the child didn't do it on purpose."
"Mom, I feel a bit dizzy. I want to go up and rest."
"Okay, Mom will accompany you. Do you want me to call a doctor?"
"No need. I'll be fine after resting for a bit. If I still feel unwell later, I'll call the doctor."
After finishing her meal, Jiang Jinluo returned to the company with Jiang Hanzhen. Fang Wei stayed upstairs to accompany Jun Jiuli.
This resulted in no one from the Jiang family coming out to welcome Zhao Ninghuan when she arrived. This made her feel even more like an outsider, and she was determined to establish herself in the Jiang household.
With such a large house, opulent furnishings, and expensive cars, she had never imagined she could live such a life before. Kuaishuge
Since fate had given her this opportunity, she was determined to seize it and put down roots here.
"Miss Zhao, your room is this way. Sir and Young Master have gone to the company. The Eldest Miss is not feeling well, and Madam is looking after her."
"Mm-hmm, thank you, sister."
"You're welcome."
"I'll be downstairs. If you need anything, please tell me."
"Okay."
"Then I'll be going down now."
"Goodbye, sister."
After everyone left, she curiously surveyed the room, delighting in every item.
High-end skincare products she had never dared to dream of were on the vanity, and there were beautiful clothes and dresses in the closet.
The room was bright and spacious, and the large bed was incredibly soft. Zhao Ninghuan happily rolled around on it.
She felt incredibly grateful to her mother and considered herself very fortunate, feeling no sorrow for her mother’s recent passing.
As for Jun Jiuli.
"Qingqing, what's wrong with you? You’ve been so distracted. Were you lying just now? Did your father do something to upset you?"
"Mom, I'm so scared. Something terrible suddenly appeared in my mind. Dad doesn't love me at all.
He and my brother conspired to lock me up. No one in the family would talk to me. It was so dark, sob, sob, sob! Mom!"
Jun Jiuli cried as she spoke, throwing herself into Fang Wei’s arms. Fang Wei, thinking she had a nightmare, gently comforted her.
"It's alright, it's alright. It's all fake. Don't be scared, Qingqing, Mom will always be by your side."
Jun Jiuli pulled away from her embrace, looked directly into her eyes, and said word by word, "Mom, it's all real. I'm not lying to you."
"Silly child, what are you always thinking about? Are you jealous because a new girl is suddenly coming into our home?
We are family by blood, and that will never change. Don't be afraid, it's all fake."
"No, I remember. That Zhao Ninghuan is the daughter of Dad's first love. My brother even fell for her.
Mom, you disagreed… and in the end, Mom died. If I disagree, they'll lock me up.
I didn't believe it before. I never knew any Zhao Ninghuan, so I was so surprised when Dad said that name."
Fang Wei was stunned. Jiang Jinluo had never had any scandals over the years, and many wives in their circle envied her.
Having shared a bed for so many years, she couldn't believe it at first. Her son had always been filial and sensible. How could such good people do such a thing?
Jun Jiuli tightly grasped her hand, as if clinging to a lifeline.
"Mom, please investigate. I'm really scared. I don't want to live in this place anymore.
That Zhao Ninghuan is like poison. Dad and my brother will definitely take her side. No matter what I say, they won't believe me."
"Don't be afraid, it'll be alright. Mom is here, and Mom will protect you. Mom will have someone investigate now, okay? Don't cry anymore."
Jun Jiuli nodded with red eyes, "Mom, I'm so happy you believe me.
Even though they were just fragments, they felt so real. It was as if I had been locked up for decades, and my heart felt suffocated."
Fang Wei gently stroked her head. "It will be alright, Qingqing, be good."
Jun Jiuli eventually fell asleep crying. Fang Wei tiptoed out, afraid of disturbing her.
As she stepped out, she encountered Zhao Ninghuan. Dressed in a white shirt and jeans, with long black hair falling down, her full appearance was obscured, but she exuded an aura of youth.
"Hello, Auntie. Thank you for taking me in. I will strive to repay your kindness in the future."
She was very polite, like a grateful child. If not for Jun Jiuli's words just now, Fang Wei would have surely taken a liking to her.
Fang Wei merely gave a soft hum and walked past her towards her own room. Zhao Ninghuan stood there, feeling so awkward she could have dug a hole in the ground.
She adjusted her clothes, put on a smiling face, and went downstairs to chat with the servants. After a while, she asked as if joking:
"Sister, does Auntie Fang dislike me? What should I pay attention to? I don't want to be disliked."
"Madam is probably in a bad mood because the Eldest Miss is unwell. She is usually very easygoing, and everyone in the family is easy to get along with."
"Then do I need to go up and see Qingqing?"
She had learned about the Jiang family's situation before coming, so she had already familiarized herself with their names.
"No need. Madam just came out, and the Eldest Miss is definitely asleep. Don't disturb her for now. Let's wait until tonight."
"Okay, thank you, sister."
The maid found her to be sweet-mouthed and sensible, and unknowingly told her a lot about the Jiang family's habits.