“Mom, what are you doing here?”
When Ji Junxiao saw his mother standing at the doorway, he hurried over to support her.
Madam Ji had never been in good health. Over the past few days, she had cried herself nearly blind while begging her daughter-in-law to keep the baby.
As she wiped away her tears, she took a neatly folded twenty-yuan bill from her pocket and handed it to Lin Ranran.
“Ranran, take this. It’s the last bit of money our family has.”
“Mom, that’s all we have left! If you give it to her, what are we supposed to eat?”
Hearing the commotion, Ji Junyong stormed into the room, pointing angrily at Lin Ranran.
He hated this woman.
Ever since she married into the Ji family, there had been no peace. In his eyes, she was nothing less than a modern-day Daji—a femme fatale who brought ruin upon a family.
Seeing his younger brother’s anger, Ji Junxiao instinctively stepped in front of Lin Ranran to shield her, despite everything she had done to him.
“Brother, you’re still protecting her?”
Ji Junyong’s eyes turned red with rage.
Afraid he might do something reckless, Madam Ji quickly grabbed him.
“Second Brother, your sister-in-law said she’ll keep the baby.”
“Mom, you’ve been fooled! She’s lied to us over and over again. This time she’s just trying to swindle our last bit of savings.”
Ji Junshan squeezed into the room as well, glaring at Lin Ranran with equal fury.
Madam Ji’s eyes filled with tears.
“No… no. Even a vicious tiger won’t eat its own cubs. Ranran won’t get rid of the baby.”
At that moment, Ji Junzhan pushed his way inside, his face burning with indignation.
“Mom, stop believing her! She’s deceived us for four whole months! Isn’t that enough? The Ji family has already fallen this low. If you ask me, the only way to vent my anger is to beat her up!”
Ji Junyao rushed in right after him, crying as she shouted,
“Exactly! She’s nothing but a liar! I treated her with all my heart, and all my sincerity was wasted! I vote to beat her too!”
Good grief…
Yong, Shan, Zhan…
The names of this family really are something.
Ji Junyong was tough and decisive. In the future, he would become a formidable military instructor.
Ji Junshan was clever and business-minded. One day, he would dominate the business world.
Ji Junzhan was fearless and courageous, destined to become a legendary commander.
Ji Junyao was meticulous, eloquent, and resolute, with a future as a top lawyer.
Original owner…
Just what kind of sins did you commit?
How did you manage to offend every single member of this family?
And why am I the one who has to clean up your mess?
“Enough!”
Madam Ji glared at everyone.
“Is that any way to speak to your eldest sister-in-law? Apologize to her.”
The room immediately fell silent.
Although they obeyed, the hatred in their eyes only deepened.
“Big Sister-in-law… we’re sorry.”
The apology was clearly insincere.
Lin Ranran smiled gently.
“It’s alright. I was the one in the wrong before. Please believe me. I’ll change from now on.”
Everyone was stunned.
Their sister-in-law, who normally cursed at them without restraint…
…was actually being this gentle?
It had to be an illusion.
They had probably been scolded so much that they were imagining things.
Madam Ji slowly walked over, tears streaming down her face as she gently held Lin Ranran’s hand.
“Ranran… tell Mom you’re not lying to us this time… alright?”
Lin Ranran nodded firmly.
“Mom, I won’t lie to you anymore. I will definitely give birth to this baby.”
Madam Ji stared at her with tear-filled eyes.
Ever since Lin Ranran became pregnant…
She had never called her “Mom” again.
Had she really heard it correctly?
Even the rest of the Ji family wondered if something was wrong with their hearing.
“Good.”
Her hands trembling, Madam Ji stuffed the last twenty yuan into Lin Ranran’s hand.
“Mom!”
The children cried out together, their voices filled with confusion and resentment.
“All of you, go kneel before our ancestors!”
Madam Ji was furious.
Lin Ranran might not be trustworthy…
But the child she carried was the precious grandson she had dreamed of for so long.
If those good-for-nothing sons were so capable…
Why couldn’t they give her a grandchild themselves?
The thought made her even more heartbroken.
She burst into tears again.
Seeing their mother’s grief, the siblings reluctantly obeyed and walked out.
Before leaving, every one of them shot Lin Ranran a vicious glare.
Lin Ranran understood.
Once bitten by a snake, a person feared ropes for ten years.
There was no way they would suddenly accept her overnight.
She could only prove herself through her actions.
“Mom, please don’t cry anymore. The baby’s hungry. If you don’t believe me… feel my belly.”
Madam Ji looked at her in disbelief.
She really hadn’t misheard.
Ranran had called her “Mom” again…
And was actually inviting her to touch her belly.
“…Can I really?”
she asked carefully, her voice trembling with hope.
Lin Ranran gently took Madam Ji’s hand and placed it on her round stomach.
“Mom, feel it. Your precious grandson says he’s hungry.”
Madam Ji’s hands trembled violently.
This was the grandson she had waited for so long.
Twenty yuan for one chance to feel him?
It was worth every cent.
Unable to resist, she crouched down and pressed her ear against Lin Ranran’s belly.
“He moved!”
“My grandson moved!”
“Grandson, I’m your grandmother!”
Overwhelmed with joy, Madam Ji burst into tears once again.
Watching the scene, Ji Junxiao’s eyes reddened.
He still didn’t know whether Lin Ranran truly intended to keep the child.
But no matter what…
She had at least given his mother a glimmer of hope.
Before they were sent to the countryside, his mother could finally feel a little happiness.
Madam Ji hurried to her feet.
“Ranran, wait here! I’ll make something delicious for you right away. We absolutely can’t let you or my grandson go hungry!”
Lin Ranran smiled warmly.
“Alright, Mom. Thank you. Take your time.”
Madam Ji practically skipped out of the room, unable to contain her excitement.
“Ranran called me Mom… She let me touch her belly… She said she’ll keep my grandson… Wonderful… This is wonderful!”
Ji Junxiao quietly looked at Lin Ranran.
Pregnancy had given her a different kind of beauty.
She was so breathtaking that anyone would want to kiss her.
Yet…
Such a beautiful woman was also the deadliest poison.
She had tricked his mother out of the family’s last bit of money.
Now she was about to deceive them out of their last meal as well.
How ruthless.
He wanted to touch her belly again.
But halfway there, he withdrew his hand.
“Lin Ranran…”
“No matter what… thank you.”
Even if this was nothing more than a beautiful lie…
Then let him and his mother live inside that lie for a little while longer.
At least…
Right now…
They were happy.
Lin Ranran naturally reached out and held his hand.
“Why are you being so polite? We’re husband and wife.”
Ji Junxiao stared blankly at the hand she was holding.
She…
Had actually taken the initiative to hold his hand.
Not only was he shocked…
His younger brothers and sister were equally stunned when they saw the couple walking downstairs hand in hand.
Ji Junyao stomped her foot angrily.
“What is that wicked woman up to now? I refuse to believe she’s planning anything good!”
Ji Junyong frowned.
“Little Sister, she tricked Mom out of the family’s last living expenses. Now she’s trying to trick us out of our last meal too.”
Ji Junyao’s face turned red with anger.
“We begged her for days. She went on a hunger strike, threatened to jump off the building, and even said she’d die in our house just so our whole family would go to prison.”
“And now she suddenly changes her attitude?”
“Hmph!”
“I finally understand.”
“She really is a scheming woman.”
“If she lived in one of those palace intrigue dramas, even the Empress Dowager wouldn’t be a match for her.”
Ji Junshan sighed helplessly.
“The day after tomorrow we’re being sent to the countryside. At this rate, we’ll probably spend these last few days hungry.”
Ji Junzhan gritted his teeth.
“Before we leave, I’m going to find a few people and give that woman the beating she deserves.”
Ji Junyao immediately nodded.
“Fourth Brother, I support you!”
Then, thinking of the baby in Lin Ranran’s womb, tears welled up in her eyes once more.
“Waaah… My poor unborn nephew…”