Attending her child’s kindergarten parent-child meeting for the first time as a mother, Jiang Yiyan felt unsure of herself. After finishing dinner, she grabbed her phone, intending to consult the all-knowing internet for guidance.
The original body’s phone was password-protected, but fortunately had facial recognition.
As soon as the screen unlocked, a photo of a handsome man and a beautiful woman appeared.
Jiang Yiyan immediately recognized the woman—of course, it was herself and the man… though unfamiliar, she could guess it was certainly Wen Mochuan.
It was a wedding photo: the man in a crisp white suit, the woman in a pure white wedding dress, smiling sweetly at the camera, radiating happiness. The man’s expression, as described in the novel, was refined and elegant, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, revealing no emotions.
Jiang Yiyan didn’t linger over the photo, glancing at it briefly before turning to her main task.
Respecting the original owner’s privacy, she didn’t browse the photo gallery or open any chat apps, focusing instead on the search browser.
Feng Ma and Fangfang had cleared the table and gone into the kitchen. Seeing her mother engrossed with the phone, Wen Meimei toddled over with a smile.
“What are you looking at, Mommy?” Sensing her mother’s good mood, Meimei clung even closer, emboldened by her mother’s gentleness.
Jiang Yiyan didn’t mind children, so she shook the phone slightly.
“Just looking at the phone.”
Meimei, being nearly five, knew exactly what a phone was and that it contained countless interesting things.
Her father had warned her that electronic devices could harm her eyes, so she wasn’t allowed to play or watch them much.
But now, with her father away…
Meimei fell silent, quietly climbing onto the sofa and leaning against her mother, following Jiang Yiyan’s gaze to look at the phone.
Jiang Yiyan was researching parent-child activities and happened to be watching a funny, widely-viewed video related to such activities.
Although she found it amusing, she didn’t laugh.
Meimei, unable to contain herself, burst into laughter, startling Jiang Yiyan.
Looking down, Jiang Yiyan realized her daughter had quietly come closer while she had been focused on the video.
She had noticed the silence but hadn’t paid much attention, thinking Meimei had simply stopped asking questions.
Indeed, when children suddenly become quiet and obedient, they are often up to something.
Having never raised a child herself, Jiang Yiyan didn’t know proper parenting techniques. She had wanted to bond with her daughter, and since she was interested in the parent-child video, she happily invited Meimei to watch it with her.
Mother and daughter cozied up on the sofa, engrossed in the video.
Even Jiang Yiyan, infected by Meimei’s laughter, exaggerated her own reactions, laughing aloud at the funny moments.
Just then, Meimei’s smartwatch rang.
“It’s Daddy!” Meimei exclaimed, springing up like a startled bird.
Jiang Yiyan was taken aback.
At first, it was the sudden movement that startled her, but then realizing the “Daddy” referred to Wen Mochuan, she felt inexplicably nervous.
Her first instinct was to flee.
Meanwhile, Wen Mochuan, already at the hotel, had just removed his suit and called his daughter via video.
Meimei quickly accepted her father’s video call.
Unprepared, Jiang Yiyan saw his face on the screen.
“Hi~” Nervous, she fumbled, instinctively responding in her own way.
But almost immediately, she realized something was wrong.
She wasn’t herself, she was now Wen Mochuan’s wife.
In the book, the original Jiang Yiyan was deeply, almost obsessively devoted to her husband.
Her casual greeting had clearly been inappropriate.
Wen Mochuan, on the video, noticed his wife’s unusual behavior. He furrowed his brow slightly but didn’t dwell on it, continuing to speak to their daughter.
“Daddy, when will you come home?” Compared with her mother, Meimei clearly interacted more naturally with her father.
Feeling guilty, Wen Mochuan explained, “The return flight was booked for tonight, but something came up, so I won’t be able to make it.”
Meimei had held out hope that he could return by tomorrow afternoon, so upon hearing this, a flicker of disappointment passed across her eyes.
But it was brief; she soon smiled again, speaking sweetly: “Daddy, work is important. Don’t work too hard. Make sure to eat well and sleep well while you’re away, okay?”
Even a reserved man like Wen Mochuan, who rarely displayed emotion, found it hard to remain indifferent to such heartfelt concern from his little girl.
He smiled, the smile was like the sun melting winter snow.
Jiang Yiyan, sitting outside the camera frame, caught sight of it and couldn’t help but murmur in admiration.
No wonder Wen Mochuan was so beloved in the novel.
Compared with the cold, ruthless, all-powerful male lead, this gentle, quietly devoted second male lead captured hearts far more effectively.
“Meimei, give Mommy the watch.”
Jiang Yiyan snapped out of her reverie.
“Okay, Daddy.” Obediently, Meimei removed her smartwatch and handed it to her mother.
“Mommy, Daddy misses you! He wants to video chat with you,” Meimei teased, winking at Jiang Yiyan.
Jiang Yiyan froze. Treat her like a three-year-old? So easily fooled!
She didn’t expose her daughter, only adjusted her mindset and took the watch.
In the novel, Jiang Yiyan loved her husband to the point of losing herself.
Though she had never felt such obsessive love, Jiang Yiyan could imitate it from reading the book.
So she forced a sweet smile as she entered the video frame.
“Husband!” she said in a cloyingly sweet voice that made herself cringe.
On the other end, Wen Mochuan’s expression remained calm.
He seemed to have ignored the greeting entirely.
“I have some things to take care of here, so I can’t come back tonight,” he explained briefly and politely, then got to the point: “Attend Meimei’s parent-child meeting tomorrow by yourself.”
Even without his instruction, she would have gone, so she didn’t react much.
“Understood,” she replied casually, then realized her tone had been too indifferent, quickly adding, “Don’t worry, I’ll be there on time. You focus on yourself, and remember to take care of yourself. I…” Mustering courage, Jiang Yiyan uttered the cringe-worthy words, “I will miss you.”
Her gaze immediately drifted away, avoiding Wen Mochuan’s eyes on the screen.
His response remained composed.
He replied briefly, then with his usual cool detachment asked, “Is there any gift you want?”
In his mind, it was a transaction.
If he had asked for something, there must be a return; he didn’t want to owe her anything.
Jiang Yiyan realized the exchange and felt slightly annoyed.
Though the original Jiang Yiyan constantly acted recklessly, this Jiang Yiyan, armed with omniscient knowledge, now looked upon the character with some pity.
In hindsight, the original Jiang Yiyan’s actions were regrettable, but her circumstances and the people around her—especially her father, her brother, and Wen Mochuan—also bore responsibility.
Feeling a mix of empathy and irritation, Jiang Yiyan stopped pretending to be deeply devoted and adopted a cold tone: “Do as you like.”
Wen Mochuan sensed the shift but remained unconcerned.
The video call was meant to reassure Meimei and give instructions to his wife; once completed, he had nothing more to say.
After a few brief words, he ended the call.
Jiang Yiyan silently exhaled in relief.
“Here~” she said with a smile, handing the watch back to Meimei.
But Meimei didn’t take it immediately, instead leaning back against her mother.
She extended her wrist and said, “Mommy, put it on for me. Your watches are the prettiest; I like it when you put them on me.”
Jiang Yiyan couldn’t resist, so she patiently fastened the watch on her daughter’s wrist.