Wu Heyue, who was standing outside, didn’t quite catch what the Heiress was saying. She pushed her way inside, but the moment she saw Huai Jian’s cold face, her eyes widened. She let out a gasp of shock just like her daughter: “Huai… Huai Jian?”
Huai Jian had a slight bit of “morning person” irritability. Her brows were knit tightly as she swept a cold gaze over them, quickly deducing their identities.
Wu Heyue turned her head blankly to look at Yun Duoduo. She couldn’t believe it—how could someone like Duoduo have the clout to invite a superstar like Huai Jian?
Duoduo was fuming. She rushed forward and pushed them toward the door, finally venting the frustration she’d bottled up for days. “What is wrong with you people? Do you have no manners? Barging into someone’s home like this! Do you think having money makes you special?”
Wu Heyue stammered, trying to argue back, “The Heiress was just curious. She’s just a child; how can you be so petty as to hold it against her?”
Duoduo was so angry she was close to tears. She started rolling up her sleeves, ready to physically drive them out. How could they be so brazenly bullying?
Just as she was about to charge, Huai Jian placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be impulsive,” she said. Then, she turned her icy gaze to the Heiress. “How old are you?”
The Heiress froze for a second before snapping into “idol mode,” offering a shy, demure smile. “I’m twenty-two. I just graduated and entered the industry. I really love your work, Sister Huai.”
Huai Jian’s brow twitched. “Are you a citizen of this country?”
“Yes, of course!” The Heiress thought Huai Jian was complimenting her looks, perhaps suggesting she looked mixed-race, a compliment she often received at school.
Huai Jian continued coldly, “In this country, legal responsibility begins at sixteen, and eighteen is the official age of adulthood. Your mother says you are still a child. May I ask if you have some sort of developmental deficiency that has caused her to harbor such a delusion?”
The Heiress’s smile froze. No matter how you looked at it, she was an adult. Huai Jian’s question made her look like a low-functioning toddler or a giant infant.
She looked as if she’d bitten her tongue, unable to utter a single word. She glanced desperately at the cameras, signaling them to turn away so this wouldn’t be captured.
The director and cameraman hesitated. Huai Jian was famously aloof and hard to please; her presence here was already a miracle, especially since she hadn’t asked for a fee. The footage would bring massive traffic. However, Yun Jianghai had also pumped a lot of money into the show. It was a difficult choice.
The Heiress glared at them. If the cameras weren’t live, she would have smashed the equipment herself.
Ultimately, the director bowed to the Heiress’s pressure and began to move the camera away. But a stern voice rang out from the other side.
“Keep this segment,” Huai Jian commanded. “I expect to see it when the show airs.”
The director was stunned. He weighed the pros and cons and decided that listening to Huai Jian was the smarter bet. The lenses swiveled back onto the Heiress.
Huai Jian looked at her. “Answer the question.”
The Heiress didn’t dare speak. It was a trap. If she answered, her public persona would crumble. Desperate, she tried to flip the script: “Every mother sees their child as someone who will never grow up. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?”
Wu Heyue chimed in immediately. “Exactly! In a mother’s heart, a child is always small. You’re being quite harsh.”
Huai Jian smirked. “Is that so? If she truly believes she hasn’t grown up and lacks an accurate perception of her own age, then it is a cognitive issue. She needs to see a doctor. I have a friend abroad; I can give you a referral.”
The verbal takedown didn’t contain a single swear word, yet it was devastating. Duoduo watched with wide eyes, silently giving Huai Jian a thumbs-up.
Unable to handle any more, the Heiress covered her face and ran out. Wu Heyue stood there awkwardly for a moment, called out her daughter’s name, and grabbed Yun Jianghai to leave. However, Yun Jianghai’s eyes were still fixed on Li Qinglian.
…
The news spread through the village like wildfire: the great beauty Huai Jian was a guest at Yun Duoduo’s house. The previously dismissive director and photographers were now crouching at the door, eager for every shot.
Seeing that Huai Jian still looked annoyed, Duoduo quickly pulled out a chair for her. “Sister Huai, don’t be mad. That family is just like that. Next time they come…”
“Next time they come, just hit them,” Huai Jian said. She had heard Duoduo complain online, but seeing the “toxic family” in person made her truly empathetic.
Duoduo nodded. She wanted to, but she hadn’t dared to before.
Huai Jian looked at her. “I’ll back you up.”
Duoduo’s jaw dropped. She felt like she was dreaming. “Really?” When Huai Jian repeated it, Duoduo let out a massive breath. The Big Sister is such a good person! She wanted to run laps around the house in joy, but settled for rushing into the kitchen to help her mom. “Mom! Did you hear? Sister Huai said she’ll back me up! She is so, so wonderful!”
Li Qinglian lifted a pot lid. “She is indeed a good person. It’s just a shame she couldn’t even rest properly because of them.”
“Ugh, I don’t know how the Heiress can be so shameless,” Duoduo huffed. Then she remembered Yun Jianghai’s oily smile. “That jerk kept staring at you. What should we do?”
“When I decided to leave, there was no turning back,” Li Qinglian said firmly. “You don’t need a scumbag like that as a father.”
…
The table was soon filled with food. Duoduo, acting like an excited kid, asked, “Sister Huai, I’ll take you out to play this afternoon. Is there anywhere you want to go?”
“Let’s go catch crabs,” Huai Jian suggested, recalling Duoduo’s descriptions.
“They’re from the river! Small, but full of flavor. My mom’s cooking is amazing; you have to try it.” Duoduo paused. “Wait, I’ll get my little bucket.”
Huai Jian smiled. “How do you know I have a little bucket?” Duoduo asked, then realized. “Oh! Was it Sister Anna? I told her about it last time, hehe.”
Hearing that name made Huai Jian feel a little bit complicated—a tiny bit of guilt for having lied about her identity. She hummed in response, and Duoduo let out a shy giggle.
Suddenly, Duoduo slapped her forehead. “We’re missing a bottle of wine! Sister Huai, do you drink?”
“A little.”
“I smelled someone making fruit wine nearby—lychee wine. It smelled heavenly! I’ll go ask if they’ll sell us a bottle.”
“I’ll go with you,” Huai Jian said, standing up.
They walked to a farmhouse where Duoduo was already quite popular. The farmer handed her a bottle, saying in broken Mandarin, “My daughter likes you and wants an autograph. If you sign, the wine is free.”
Duoduo’s eyes sparkled. It was her first time being asked for an autograph! “Of course! I’d love to!”
A little girl ran out with a backpack and some markers. “Thank you, Sister! That other sister is so pretty too!” she said, looking at Huai Jian.
After Duoduo signed, she asked, “Do you want her autograph too? This is the super, super famous Best Actress, Huai Jian!” Her tone was full of pride.
The little girl pleaded with a sweet local accent. Huai Jian’s heart softened. She took the pen and signed her name right next to Duoduo’s. “Study hard,” she told the girl.
The girl ran back to her room, shouting to everyone that her bag had autographs from two “Best Actresses.”
Duoduo held the wine, feeling like she was walking on air because the girl had grouped her with Huai Jian. “Sister Huai, I used to think you were really cold.”
“And now?”
Duoduo leaned in a little. “Not at all. I feel like you’re very warm. I just want to follow you around, hehe.”
Her smile was genuine, lacking the flattery Huai Jian was used to from others. As they walked, the scent of wine and the light fragrance of Duoduo’s perfume drifted by. It was a pleasant moment.
“Are you happy?” Huai Jian asked.
“Ecstatic! I thought no one would come today, but you did. And you stood up for me! You’re so talented, Sister Huai.”
Huai Jian felt a strange sense of accomplishment. Back home, the “real” Anna had teased her for going to the countryside, betting she wouldn’t last two days.
“How many days can a guest stay here?” Huai Jian asked.