She hung up, recalling their fates from a past life: after Jiang Baiyuan’s decline, Lin Jing’an rose to prominence. If her mother hadn’t disappeared, her father would still be the radiant figure he once was, achieving even greater success, and Lin Jing’an would never have stood out. So, her father was blocking Lin Jing’an’s path. And with her mother being the woman he loved, it indeed would provoke him.
Jiang Ruyi analyzed this, concluding that Lin Jing’an harbored malice towards her father. Combined with his previous visit to entice her father with money to join an illegal research institute, his sinister intentions were clear. He wanted to destroy her father. First her mother, then his daughter—could her original self’s early death also be related to him?
After pondering conspiracies for a while, she heard a knock at the door; it was her father urging her: “What are you chatting about? Taking so long?”
“Nothing much.” She opened the door, handed the phone back to him, and saw him make a call, then entered her room and closed the door.
Jiang Ruyi: “…” How childish does this seem?
She sat on the couch, speaking to Feng Mingzhu, who had become much quieter after the sudden change in her life.
“I don’t have a dad anymore,” she said, head bowed, looking pitiful.
Eating a banana, Jiang Ruyi gave a response: “Oh.”
“You don’t have a mom anymore.”
My mom will be back soon, she thought to herself.
Feng Mingzhu continued, “From now on, your dad can be my dad, and my mom can be your mom, okay?”
Not okay. That’s not a fair deal. She said in her heart, but outwardly, she seriously said, “Your dad is your uncle.”
“I want a dad. I want my uncle to be my dad.”
That would be incest, sister! Jiang Ruyi said dismissively, “You have a dad. Your dad is still your dad, even though he’s separated from your mom.”
Feng Mingzhu burst into loud sobs: “You’re bad. Give me back my dad. Uncle is my dad.”
Jiang Ruyi: “…” She was stunned: What kind of child is this, trying to steal someone else’s dad!
Hearing the cries, Jiang Baiyuan quickly opened the door: “What’s wrong? Mingzhu, come, let uncle hug you.”
