“Jiuyue, think about it. Let’s start with the obvious—Tao Tao is still Haichuan’s son, Yanchuan’s own nephew, and a legitimate grandson of the Li family, isn’t he?
“It’s only two pieces of sponge cake…”
Bai Lili tried once more to persuade Su Jiuyue, but Su Jiuyue only let out a cold laugh.
“I don’t have any. Not even one.”
The smile on Bai Lili’s face instantly froze.
Gone? How was that possible?
She had clearly seen Su Jiuyue return with them just moments ago. How could they have disappeared so quickly?
“Jiuyue…” she said, forcing a sob into her voice. “You know Haichuan’s salary isn’t enough to support us. Tao Tao and I barely scrape by.
“Tao Tao is still growing. When he sees other children eating nice things, he can’t help craving them… Please, just take pity on the child, will you?”
In the past, Su Jiuyue might have softened.
But now, all she could see was Bai Lili’s smug face from her previous life, strutting around the psychiatric hospital in triumph.
Hearing that familiar tale of self-pity again, Su Jiuyue couldn’t even be bothered to humor her anymore. She shoved Bai Lili out the door with a sudden burst of force and slammed it shut behind her.
“Listen carefully, Bai Lili. From today onward, we are no longer family. If you ever come here trying to take advantage of us again, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
Bai Lili stood there dumbfounded.
How dare Su Jiuyue treat her like this?
“Waaah!”
Li Tao burst into tears.
“I want sponge cake! I want sponge cake!”
Su Jiuyue’s icy voice came from inside the house.
“Bai Lili, if you want to wail, do it somewhere else. Don’t make a scene at my door.”
Bai Lili was completely stunned, her face alternating between red and pale.
Just then, steady footsteps sounded behind her.
Li Yanchuan had appeared without anyone noticing. His face was gloomy.
“Lili, take Tao Tao home.”
His voice was low and heavy.
“Brother!”
As though grabbing hold of a lifeline, Bai Lili’s eyes immediately reddened.
“I just wanted to get Tao Tao a snack… Jiuyue, she…”
“I said, go home.”
Li Yanchuan interrupted, his tone growing firmer.
It was the first time Bai Lili had ever seen him look at her that way.
There was none of his usual indulgence or helplessness in his eyes.
Only deep exhaustion…
…and even a trace of scrutiny.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Not daring to argue any further, she pulled along the reluctant Li Tao and hurried away with her head lowered.
Only Li Yanchuan remained standing outside the small courtyard.
Su Jiuyue stood inside the door.
He stood outside.
A single doorway now separated them by a gulf that could never again be crossed.
He wanted to say something.
His lips moved.
But in the end, only one sentence came out.
“…I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”
Su Jiuyue hadn’t expected him to apologize, but her tone remained indifferent.
“I hope you’ll manage your own household properly from now on. Don’t let Haichuan be disappointed in you.”
Li Yanchuan stood there for a while before finally turning toward Bai Lili’s house.
Every step felt like he was walking over a bed of hidden thorns.
The moment Bai Lili entered, she sat Li Tao down on a small stool before collapsing onto the edge of the bed in silent frustration.
Li Tao pouted.
“Mom, I want sponge cake…”
“Eat, eat, eat! All you ever think about is food!”
Bai Lili snapped irritably.
Seeing that her son was about to cry again, she forced herself to calm down and lowered her voice.
“Be good, Tao Tao. Mommy will buy you some tomorrow. But for now… we can’t ask them anymore.”
“Why?” Li Tao asked innocently.
“Auntie always gave me some before…”
“That was before!”
The words escaped Bai Lili before she realized it.
She froze.
Yes.
The old Su Jiuyue had been as soft as dough—easy to manipulate.
Whatever Tao Tao wanted to eat or wear, she never dared refuse.
Even Li Yanchuan’s money could be squeezed out bit by bit to subsidize Bai Lili and her son.
But ever since Li Yanchuan’s “death” and Su Jiuyue awakened from her coma…
Everything had changed.
It was as though that woman had suddenly grown a backbone.
The door opened.
Li Yanchuan walked inside.
Bai Lili immediately put on a worried expression and stepped forward to take his coat.
“Brother, don’t be angry… I only felt sorry for Tao Tao. I know Jiuyue has a hard time now, raising Jiaojiao by herself…”
Li Yanchuan didn’t respond.
He walked to the table, poured himself a glass of water, and drained it in one gulp.
After setting down the cup, he suddenly asked,
“Lili… what do you think? How did I treat Jiuyue and Jiaojiao before?”
Bai Lili’s heart skipped a beat, but she feigned confusion.
“Brother, why would you ask that? You’ve always treated them well! You handed over your salary every month without fail. Weren’t they able to live peacefully in the military compound because of you?”
“Really?”
Li Yanchuan stared at the rippling water in his cup, speaking almost to himself.
“Then why does Jiaojiao always hide when she sees me?
“And why does Jiuyue look at me as though I’m a complete stranger?”
This was bad.
How could Li Yanchuan suddenly start reflecting on himself?
Bai Lili’s eyes instantly filled with tears.
“It’s all my fault. If only Haichuan earned more money… if only I could work… if only Tao Tao hadn’t been born prematurely, life wouldn’t have been so hard. You wouldn’t have had to help us all these years. Of course Jiuyue would resent me…”
“How could this have anything to do with you?”
Li Yanchuan hurriedly comforted her.
“Tao Tao is my… my child. Of course I have to help support him. Jiuyue is simply too narrow-minded. None of this is your fault.”
Then he lowered his voice.
“But things aren’t the same anymore. After all… I’ve already ‘died.’
“From now on, let’s live as two separate families.
“Don’t go looking for Jiuyue and Jiaojiao anymore.
“I’ll give all my money to you. Isn’t that enough?”
Bai Lili’s entire body stiffened.
How could Li Yanchuan say something like that?
But she and her son depended entirely on him now, so she didn’t dare oppose him.
She immediately smiled and nodded.
“All right. I’ll do whatever you say.”
Seeing her as gentle and compliant as ever, Li Yanchuan finally relaxed.
He turned and went into the inner room to play with Tao Tao.
Bai Lili stared at the closed door.
The grievance in her eyes gradually disappeared…
…replaced by cold darkness.
Listen to him?
Why should she?
Why should Su Jiuyue get to live so comfortably, buying whatever she wanted…
…while she had to pinch every penny raising her son?
Pah!
Tao Tao was the Li family’s grandson.
That money belonged to Tao Tao.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind.
A cold smile curled across her lips.
Su Jiuyue…
You think you can cut ties with us?
Dream on!
Late that night…
Li Yanchuan lay awake on the hard wooden bed, staring at the beams above him in the darkness.
Sleep refused to come.
He remembered the hatred in Jiaojiao’s eyes whenever she looked at him.
It was completely different from the affection Tao Tao showed him.
And yet…
That hatred filled him with unease.
Jiaojiao was his own biological daughter…
But Bai Lili was always crying softly, saying,
“Poor Tao Tao… he has no father to love him…”
Wait…
Something wasn’t right.
He was living under Haichuan’s identity now.
Tao Tao had a father.
Jiaojiao was the one without a father.
A thunderous realization struck him.
That’s right!
That’s right!
How had he been so foolish?
He had already taken on Haichuan’s identity to care for his widowed sister-in-law and nephew.
Now, the one without a father was Jiaojiao.
The one without a husband was Jiuyue.
They were the ones truly suffering.
Yes…
No wonder everyone said he was wrong.
How could he, while living as his late brother, expect Jiuyue and Jiaojiao to continue looking after Bai Lili and Tao Tao instead?