Chapter 5 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 5

With the family conflict temporarily eased, Ji Xiu wanted to give Zhou Qingqing a small surprise.

He called over a waiter, paid the bill, and stood up. "Let's go. I’ll take you to see Qingqing; she’s been wanting to see you."

Song Ruyue showed a flicker of reluctance.

Ji Xiu glanced at her. "If you don't show a bit of sincerity, how can I believe you?"

Only then did Song Ruyue grumpily agree.

They didn't have to go far, as Zhou Qingqing was at a nearby salon getting a makeover.

After spending these past few days with his "daughter," Ji Xiu realized that many things about her needed to change. Beyond her learning environment and how she treated others, her posture and aesthetic sense were also crucial. He had chosen a well-known styling shop that didn't just cut hair but also taught coordination and provided full image services, helping her shed that timid, cowering aura.

Thinking about it, a man raising a daughter alone was indeed a bit troublesome. If Song Ruyue could truly play the role of a loving mother, Ji Xiu could accept her spending money to raise an outsider’s child.

Even though he still disliked Ji Wu.

Since arriving in this world, Ji Xiu hadn't interacted with Ji Wu. In the original owner's memory, she was a well-behaved, obedient girl. Although the original owner was obsessed with work, he had maintained a polite surface-level affection for this daughter.

But no matter how "good" Ji Wu was, so what?

Her parents had swapped her with Zhou Qingqing so she could enjoy a life of luxury. It wasn't her fault, but she was the one reaping the benefits; she was born with "original sin." Like the daughter of a human trafficker—even if she isn't a trafficker herself, she enjoys the wealth brought by her parents' crimes. Her refined manners and good education were funded by blood money.

Whether she was "good" or not, she was guilty.

Ji Xiu’s desire to send her back to the Zhou family was so she could atone for that debt. Although he couldn't send her away due to Song Ruyue's persistence, he kept this in mind and found it impossible to like her.

However... if Song Ruyue could take care of Zhou Qingqing and compensate her for years of suffering, he could tolerate keeping Ji Wu around. Let the mother pay the "debt" for the daughter.

When they arrived at the salon, the stylist was adjusting the hem of Zhou Qingqing's dress for the final touch.

Ji Xiu called out, "Qingqing."

Zhou Qingqing’s eyes lit up as she looked over. "Dad!"

She was wearing a ginger-yellow lace princess dress, which made her skin—slightly dark from labor—look much fairer. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail with loose curls and a red bow. Her forehead was clear and bright, and she looked happy. Whatever the staff had taught her, her timid aura had faded significantly in just half an hour.

She greeted him, but when her eyes caught Song Ruyue behind him, she remembered what Ji Xiu had said before they left. Her eyes flickered with a mix of doubt and expectation.

When the styling was finished, she jogged over to Ji Xiu, glanced tentatively at Song Ruyue, and asked, "Is... is that Mom?"

Ji Xiu nodded. "Yes, this is Mom."

Zhou Qingqing was overjoyed. Looking at the beautiful, elegant woman, she was so nervous she didn't know where to put her hands. This noble woman was her biological mother...

She wanted to call out to her, but before she could speak, she sensitively detected the other woman's critical and displeased gaze. She froze and fell silent.

Ji Xiu shot a look at Song Ruyue.

Song Ruyue noticed and quickly retracted her gaze, forced a smile, and said, "Is this Qingqing?"

When a noble woman like her smiled, her distant aura softened into something approachable. Zhou Qingqing’s guard dropped immediately as she stared at her, her eyes full of wonder.

Suppressing her inner irritation, Song Ruyue kept a smile on her face. She stepped forward to take the girl's arm and said flatly, "Qingqing looks quite good like this."

At least much better than what she had seen before.

No one knew that Song Ruyue had once secretly gone to check on Zhou Qingqing. It was right after school let out; she had waited outside the gates and seen a girl in an old uniform, messy-haired and slovenly, walk out. Another boy in a faded uniform called out, "Zhou Qingqing, wait for me." The girl turned with a shy, timid smile and a look of hidden affection in her eyes. She took the boy's backpack and walked him home, ignoring the disdainful looks from other students.

Song Ruyue had nearly lost her mind then, unable to accept that she had such a daughter. She stumbled back to the Ji house. When she saw the beautiful, elegant Ji Wu walking toward her, and then thought of her biological daughter, her heart split in two.

One half was blood, whispers, and disdain.

The other half was affection, flowers, applause, and envy.

She had almost instantly crossed Zhou Qingqing's name out of her heart. She took Ji Wu's bag and walked inside to eat, acting like a loving mother and daughter. She never told anyone about this, which was why the family didn't understand her fierce refusal when Ji Xiu proposed bringing the child back.

How could she accept her? A slovenly, delinquent girl obsessed with "puppy love"—how could she be her daughter?

She had prepared for the worst when Ji Xiu brought her here, but to her surprise, the girl actually looked presentable after a makeover. A weight lifted from Song Ruyue’s heart as she invited them to go home.

The driver was waiting. Song Ruyue got in first and waved at Zhou Qingqing.

The girl hesitated and looked at Ji Xiu. "Dad, is the cold war over?"

"Yes, it's over. Let's go home together." Ji Xiu ruffled her hair and sighed inwardly. To give you a stable family environment, I'll have to make some sacrifices.

...

Back at the Ji house, Ji Ze and Ji Wu rushed out to greet them. Before they could say a word, they saw the stranger next to Ji Xiu.

The girl's skin was a bit dark, but her large eyes, high nose, and perfect styling hid her flaws and highlighted her strengths. She was quite the little beauty. Most importantly, standing next to Ji Xiu, the resemblance was striking.

Ji Ze guessed who she was immediately. He stopped and studied this never-before-seen biological sister. He was surprised, but a natural sense of closeness bubbled up. She looked like Dad, and he looked like Dad—by the transitive property, they were similar. How could he not feel close to her?

On the other side, Ji Wu’s reaction was entirely different.

She glanced at Ji Xiu, then at Zhou Qingqing. her breath hitched, and a flash of panic and guilt crossed her eyes. She quickly calmed herself before anyone noticed, putting on an innocent, confused expression. "Whose sister is this?"

Seeing no one answer, she stepped forward and took Zhou Qingqing's hand with a playful, testing smile. "Coming home with Dad and looking so much like him... she isn't Dad’s illegitimate daughter, is she?"

An awkward silence fell over the garden. The words sounded harmless, but they held a subtle hostility. And Ji Wu was the one person who had no right to say them.

Facing Ji Wu, Zhou Qingqing wasn't a fool. Seeing a girl her age, she immediately guessed her identity. Hearing that malicious comment, why would she bother talking to her? She pulled her hand away and hid behind Ji Xiu.

Ji Xiu patted her shoulder and looked at Ji Wu coldly. "This is Qingqing. She is no illegitimate daughter; she is the rightful eldest young lady of the Ji family."

Ji Wu bit her lip in resentment, her expression stiff. She could only force a smile. "Dad, what are you saying? I'm your daughter, aren't I?"

Ji Xiu stared at her calmly until she looked away in guilt. Then he said quietly, "Ji Wu, do you know? Your reaction has already exposed you."

Ji Wu’s pupils shrank. "What?"

Ji Xiu didn't leave her any face, piercing her mask directly. "You’ve known about this for a long time, haven't you? You knew you weren't a Ji, but you've been playing dumb?"

The moment they entered, he had noticed her panic. That look of guilt clearly meant she knew the truth.

Ji Wu’s face changed dramatically as she waved her hands in denial. "No! I didn't!"

Under Ji Xiu's cold gaze, her face went pale. She knew she couldn't hide it anymore. But why treat her like this? She was just an innocent child. She had been a mess for days, unable to even study. To appease her mother, she had to pretend she didn't know—she was exhausted too! Why couldn't Dad understand her? Why did he have to bring that girl back?

Ji Wu looked at Ji Xiu with resentful, tearful eyes, sinking into self-pity.

Ji Xiu didn't know her thoughts, but if he did, he would have said: As expected of the Zhou family's daughter. The Zhou couple didn't think they were wrong, only that they suffered because their daughter wasn't with them. Ji Wu had the exact same mindset—pretending to be dumb was "hard work."

If it was so hard, why not just stand up and give the identity back to Zhou Qingqing? If she had done that, Ji Xiu might have thought her character was decent. But she chose to play dumb.

The wealth and parents of the Ji family never belonged to her. Knowing the truth but acting as if nothing happened—was she fair to Zhou Qingqing?

Most frighteningly, if she had known all along, then in the previous life, she hadn't shown a single trace of it for ten years—only allowing Zhou Qingqing back when she wanted to marry Ji Ze and needed a proper status. Did she not feel a shred of guilt in those ten years?

Ji Xiu looked at the dazed Ji Ze. In the previous life, five years after the truth came out, Ji Ze and Ji Wu got together. Was it a twist of fate, or was Ji Wu afraid of being sent back, so she deliberately seduced Ji Ze?

Ji Ze was eighteen now and showed no feelings for Ji Wu beyond brotherhood. Would he really go "insane" and fall for his sister in five years? To outsiders, they were still biological siblings then.

Ji Xiu felt a surge of suspicion. He looked at the crying, "pitiful" Ji Wu and felt zero pity—only wariness.

Seeing this out of the corner of her eye, Ji Wu’s breakdown became even more intense.

"Xiao Wu, you knew all along?" Ji Ze finally processed his father's words and looked at her in shock. Seeing her just cry, he scratched his head, sensing something was wrong. For the past few days, Ji Wu had been happy and kind to him and Mom. If Dad hadn't said it, he never would have known.

But if she knew, then fine—no need to explain. Ji Ze thought simply; she didn't seem traumatized, meaning Mom's worries were overblown. Xiao Wu was a strong girl.

He turned to Zhou Qingqing. This girl was his real sister. She looked so pitiful, hiding behind Dad. She must have suffered a lot. He, as the big brother, had to take good care of her.

In the previous life, Ji Ze ignored her because he had never met her and had no bond. But in this life, Ji Xiu had brought her back forcibly. Looking at his small, thin sister, his teenage heart softened.

Ji Xiu noticed him talking to Zhou Qingqing carefully and was surprised. But it was a good thing. He pushed Zhou Qingqing forward. "This is your brother, Ji Ze. Call him 'Brother'."

Zhou Qingqing whispered, "Brother."

"Hey!" Ji Ze replied brightly and took her hand. "Come on, Brother will take you upstairs to pick a room!"

Zhou Qingqing looked at Ji Xiu for permission. He waved. "Go ahead."

Once the siblings went upstairs, only Ji Xiu, Song Ruyue, and Ji Wu remained in the garden.

Ji Wu watched Ji Ze’s retreating back—watched him dote on another girl, calling her "sister" and following her every whim. Her face twisted; a flash of terror and darkness crossed her eyes.

No... this is my brother. This is my home.