The family of three returned home, and the internet was already buzzing.
The girl who had posted the photos was a somewhat well-known photography blogger, always collecting inspiration from her fans or creating concepts herself.
After editing the captions, she published them on Weibo:
[A silhouette of happiness. (Posted with consent.)]
Her own fans saw it first and went wild.
[I declare this is the best of the “Happiness” series!][Support! Wife, you really know how to shoot!][Happiness made tangible.][The family’s looks are god-tier.][Look at the way that handsome guy looks at his wife… when will I meet someone like that?][Is that the same guy from the Taekwondo studio post today?][Exactly, the same dad with that cute, handsome son.][Only excellent genes can produce a son like this.]
Among the fans, some had watched Baby Forward!
[Man, I’m even more jealous of Jin Qiao now.][Before, everyone said her husband never came home, but money was still flowing. Now he comes home and she still lives luxuriously!][Everyone else must be unhappy now.][I used to think she married a rich, middle-aged guy with a belly… didn’t expect this!][This morning I saw them at the Taekwondo studio and thought they weren’t familiar… then they went to eat KFC afterward.][That toy is actually cute, I’m going to get it at KFC too.][Hahaha, I’ll take my brother too.]
Everyone was enthusiastically discussing, and Director Zheng seized the moment to promote the show and announce the second episode’s schedule.
..
At home, Jin Qiao, lying on the sofa, received a call from the director.
“Second episode will be filmed in Hongyang Village. Prepare your luggage tonight. Departure tomorrow.”
“How long will it take?” she asked lazily.
“Three days.”
“Fine.”
“Be punctual at the airport.”
“1.”
The moment the call ended, Yu Siyi ran over to her side, eyes sparkling with excitement. You could see how much he was looking forward to the trip.
“Make sure you pack everything yourself,” Jin Qiao said.
He nodded and ran off to pack. Her son was all hers for now.
“Madam, do you need me to help prepare your luggage?”
Jin Qiao immediately sat up, eyes wide, nodding at Wu Ma.
She really needed her help—Jin Qiao always ended up forgetting something important at the location. While they could buy things later, in the village it wouldn’t be so convenient.
“Wu Ma, you’re literally my savior!”
After her rainbow of compliments, Wu Ma was too embarrassed to stay in the living room and quickly returned to her own room.
Later, after her bath, Jin Qiao went to the study.
“Come in.”
“I have something to tell you.”
She closed the door and sat across from Yu Jia at his desk.
“What I’m going to say might shatter your perception. You may not believe me, but I swear it’s true.”
“Hmm.”
Yu Jia lowered his head, eyes slightly shadowed.
“I’m not Jin Qiao! Or rather… I’m not the Jin Qiao you know.”
The study was quiet, only their soft breaths could be heard.
“I know.”
“What?! You know? How do you know?”
His calm answer seemed almost… boring to her. She expected rage, grabbing her collar, demanding to know where his lover went. But this? So boring!
“You’re completely different from her.”
Jin Qiao rolled her eyes.
Isn’t that obvious?
“You already know I’m not her. I don’t know how to explain where she went, but don’t be too upset.”
“Why would I be upset?”
He looked at her, genuinely confused.
“Huh? The person you liked is gone and you’re not upset? So heartless!”
“Who said I liked her? Jin Qiao, what on earth is going on in your head? You think you can feel who I like?”
Jin Qiao froze under the verbal assault.
Pouting, she muttered:
“Who knows who you like… maybe it’s me? You just met me and already like me? You’re not a good person.”
The study held only the two of them, and Yu Jia practically wanted to theatrically spit blood.
“You’re something else,” he muttered, thumbs up in his mind.
“That’s all I wanted to say. So… if you want a divorce, can you give me extra money?”
Jin Qiao’s heart raced. What if he got angry and made her walk out with nothing? She couldn’t win in court.
Yu Jia’s face darkened. He rose from his chair, leaning over her, pinning her in place with one hand on the desk.
“You wouldn’t want me dead, right? That’s not allowed!”
He leaned down and lightly bit her lip—not hard, just enough to brush it.
Soon, Jin Qiao felt her lips go numb. He hadn’t let go yet.
“If you bring up divorce again, I’ll make sure you walk out with nothing. Not a cent.”
He whispered a threat.
“What if I don’t divorce… and keep bouncing around in front of you? You wouldn’t silence me?”
Seeing her still hesitate, Yu Jia sighed.
“No. As long as you stay by my side, I’ll make sure you live in wealth and honor forever. And I never liked her—then or now. I’ve always liked you.”
His voice was soft, feather-light against her chest.
Always—then until now?
Jin Qiao didn’t understand.
Their awkward yet intimate tension was finally broken by a knock at the door.
Jin Qiao snapped back to reality, slipping out of his arms like a slippery fish to open the door.
Outside, Yu Siyi’s face said: I knew you were here, his big eyes staring at his mom. He reached for her hand.
“Sleep with me!!”
Jin Qiao let her son lead her out of the study, not daring to look back.
A proper turtle retreat.
Yu Jia didn’t stop them. He understood—this was a jolt for her, and she needed time.
Some work called him back to the office. He put on his coat and left.
From the car, he sent her a message:
[Company’s busy, I’m back.][Check in when you arrive at the filming location.][Don’t stay up late, sleep early.]
Jin Qiao, holding Yu Siyi against the headboard, felt her face heat up reading the messages.
The phone was like a ticking bomb in her hand.
She tossed it aside and hugged her son to sleep.
Yu Jia occasionally glanced at his phone, seeing she hadn’t replied, feeling helpless.
[Good night.]