After Becoming the Mother of the Scumbag Stand-In Female Lead - Chapter 30

Having spent the entire day learning vocal warm-ups and opera singing techniques from her teacher, Sheng Yunjin’s voice carried a slight hoarseness.

“Yeah, you… have you finished handling your matters?”

Noticing her voice sounded a bit raspy, Sheng Yunjin took another large gulp of water.

On the other end of the call, Si Mu immediately detected the unusual quality in her voice.

She slowed her car slightly. “It’s all taken care of. What’s wrong with your throat?”

The classrooms outside had already turned off their lights. Perhaps because Sheng Yunjin had started school later than others, Teacher Chen was especially strict with her, often extending her training by an hour every evening.

Holding her phone, Sheng Yunjin walked slowly down the empty corridor, her soft footsteps the only sound.

“Mmm… I was practicing opera singing with my teacher today. Maybe I didn’t get the technique quite right—my throat feels a little uncomfortable.”

Hearing the concern in Si Mu’s voice, Sheng Yunjin quickly added,

“I’m already sucking on throat lozenges. I should be fine by tomorrow, so don’t worry.”

Pressing the elevator button to go downstairs, Sheng Yunjin glanced at the box of throat lozenges in her other hand and smiled wryly.

Though Teacher Chen was strict, she was thoughtful enough to prepare the lozenges for her in advance.

Relaxing slightly, Si Mu continued driving, her tone gentle. “I’ve sent you the driver’s contact details. Just call her once you’re downstairs.”

The company’s underground parking lot held several of Si Mu’s backup cars. Worried she might not make it back in time, she had arranged for a driver to wait for Sheng Yunjin.

Chuckling, Sheng Yunjin replied, “Got it~ Hmm… what are you doing right now?”

Ever since she started wondering when exactly Si Mu had fallen for her, Sheng Yunjin had been in a state of restless excitement.

She had a feeling that if she asked Si Mu directly, the answer would surprise her.

She couldn’t quite explain where this intuition came from.

Perhaps it was because of how tenderly Si Mu had kissed her that day when she was sick.

Or maybe because, even in her feverish haze, Si Mu had still managed to call out Sheng Yunjin’s name correctly.

…

Hearing the question, Si Mu instinctively glanced at the rearview mirror. Meeting Si Ying’s flickering gaze, she smiled faintly before looking away and answering.

“I’m driving. On my way home.”

Already seated in the car, Sheng Yunjin quietly instructed the driver to head home. Glancing at the time, she debated whether to ask Si Mu about it tonight.

Before she could speak again, Si Mu seemed to sense her hesitation.

“Do you have something you want to tell me?”

The car moved steadily along the road as Si Mu suddenly posed the question.

Startled, Sheng Yunjin blurted out, “How did you know?”

A faint smile curved Si Mu’s lips. “Just a guess. Seems I was right.”

Checking the estimated arrival time on the navigation, she did a quick mental calculation.

“Want to have dinner together?”

Si Zhong’s place and Si Mu’s home were in opposite directions—one in the old district, the other in the newly developed area, about an hour’s drive apart.

The company, however, was much closer to Si Mu’s neighborhood, only twenty minutes away.

Si Mu calculated the time. Since she had to pick up Si Ying from school earlier, she and Sheng Yunjin would probably arrive home around the same time later.

Every word Si Mu said perfectly aligned with Sheng Yunjin’s thoughts.

Because she, too, was eagerly waiting to hear an answer from Si Mu.

Turning her head to glance at the scenery flashing past the window, Sheng Yunjin’s smile grew brighter and more radiant.

“Alright.”

…

Considering Sheng Yunjin’s sore throat, Si Mu had chosen a restaurant specializing in seafood congee, where the dishes were light and mild in flavor.

While parking the car, Si Ying, sitting in the back seat, unbuckled her backpack and mustered the courage to speak up.

“…Auntie, aren’t we going home?”

The obvious commercial district and towering buildings around them made her nervous and confused.

Since being adopted by Si Zhong, Si Ying had lived with him.

Si Zhong was older and rarely went out. With a hired housekeeper preparing all their meals, Si Ying seldom had the chance to eat out.

Her personality seemed introverted—she didn’t like talking or interacting with others. Even after moving here two years ago, she rarely played with children her age in the neighborhood.

Her daily routine was simply school and home. Si Zhong, a retired teacher with a strict demeanor, had always prioritized academic performance with his students.

So he raised Si Ying the same way—ensuring her basic needs were met while demanding most of her time be devoted to studies.

Thus, suddenly following Si Mu to this unfamiliar place left Si Ying feeling uneasy and tense.

Noticing her discomfort, Si Mu paused before patiently explaining, “We’re having dinner here with one of Auntie’s friends.”

Biting her lip, Si Ying hesitated before finally nodding and stepping out of the car with Si Mu.

Keeping her head down as she surveyed her surroundings, Si Ying tightened her grip on her blue-and-white school uniform, her expression stiff with unease.

…

When the two arrived at the private dining room, Sheng Yunjin hadn’t arrived yet.

As the server handed them the menu, Si Mu turned to Si Ying and asked gently, “What would you like to eat? You can order anything.”

Silently wetting her lips, Si Ying flipped through the menu. The dazzling array of congee varieties and unfamiliar ingredient names left her overwhelmed.

Shaking her head, she shyly pushed the menu back toward Si Mu and murmured, “I’m fine with anything.”

Si Mu studied her for a moment, uncertain. “Do you not like the food here?”

Whenever they spoke, Si Ying kept her head down and her voice soft, making it hard for Si Mu to gauge her feelings.

Shaking her head again, Si Ying replied in a low voice, her cheeks faintly pink, “No, really, I’m fine with anything.”

This was her first time alone with Si Mu, and Si Ying couldn’t help but feel nervous.

In her eyes, Si Mu commanded even more admiration and respect than Si Zhong.

Perhaps it was because Si Mu was simply extraordinary—brilliant, elegant, with exquisite features and an ethereal grace. Meanwhile, Si Ying was just an ordinary orphan, kindly taken in by Si Zhong.

If he hadn’t brought her out of the rural mountains, she might never have met someone like Si Mu in her lifetime.

So when she was around Si Mu, Si Ying would feel nervous, restrained, and insecure.

Yet at the same time, deep down, she also felt excitement, a flicker of secret delight.

…

Si Mu had no idea about her inner thoughts. Hearing this, she simply assumed it might be because they weren’t very familiar with each other, which made Si Ying a little reserved.

After ordering a fish congee, steamed seafood, white-cut chicken, and a vegetable dish, Si Mu softly asked for Si Ying’s opinion before closing the menu.

“Are these dishes, okay? Is there anything you don’t like?”

Si Ying bit her lip. Si Mu’s considerate questioning made her feel genuinely cared for.

“No, I like them all.”

…

When Sheng Yunjin arrived, Si Ying was the only one in the private room.

She froze at the doorway, then glanced at the server who had led her there, her expression clearly puzzled—as if asking, Are you sure this is the right room?

Si Ying, seeing the woman standing at the door, instinctively rose to her feet.

The knock had made her think Si Mu had returned, but instead, it was someone else.

The woman at the door was stunning—the kind of beauty Si Ying had only ever seen on TV.

Her long, black hair cascaded in loose waves over her shoulders, giving her an air of lazy confidence.

Her fair face was adorned with striking features, and despite being bare-faced, she was breathtakingly gorgeous.

What unsettled Si Ying even more was how, despite being the one who had barged in, the woman had effortlessly taken a seat across from her within moments. Leaning on the table with one hand, she tilted her head and studied Si Ying with a lazy, appraising gaze.

Meanwhile, Si Ying, who had been there the whole time, suddenly felt like the awkward intruder.

A faint smile played on Sheng Yunjin’s lips as she propped her chin on one hand, watching the young girl across from her.

“Hello there, little one.”

Si Ying stole another glance toward the door, but there was still no sign of Si Mu.

She could guess that this woman was the friend Si Mu had mentioned earlier.

Slowly sitting back down, Si Ying kept her eyes fixed on the table in front of her and gave a slight nod in response.

“Are you one of Si Mu’s relatives?”

Unfazed by Si Ying’s silence, Sheng Yunjin poured a cup of tea and slid it toward her, continuing the conversation with curiosity.

Si Ying’s gaze flickered uncertainly. She bit her lip hard before finally nodding after a long pause.

Seemingly noticing her tension, Sheng Yunjin chuckled and deliberately lightened the mood. “No need to be so nervous. Do I look that scary?”

Si Ying quickly glanced up at her, then shook her head.

…

By the time Si Mu returned from taking a call outside, she found Sheng Yunjin and Si Ying sitting across from each other.

One was silent, head lowered, her expression unreadable; the other was idly playing with her phone, her face a picture of bored nonchalance.

Si Mu took a seat between them. The moment she arrived, Sheng Yunjin couldn’t help but complain, “You’re so mean—I’ve been starving, waiting for you for half an hour.”

Across from her, Si Ying’s head snapped up at the words. She thought Sheng Yunjin’s accusation was completely unfair.

After all, she and Si Mu had arrived first—they had been waiting for her all this time.

Moreover, it was Sheng Yunjin herself who told the waiter they could wait a bit longer when asked if they wanted the food served first. So now that she was hungry, how could she blame Aunt Si Mu for it?

But to her surprise, Si Mu didn’t get angry at all.

She smiled gently at Sheng Yunjin and softly explained, “I’m sorry, I just got a call from the company and had to handle some matters. It took longer than expected—that’s my fault.”

Sheng Yunjin had only wanted to act a little spoiled with her. She realized she simply loved talking to Si Mu this way—and even more than that, she adored Si Mu’s gentle and indulgent reactions.

…

During the meal, Sheng Yunjin served Si Mu and Si Ying bowls of porridge and even thoughtfully peeled a small plate of shrimp, pushing it toward Si Mu.

Si Mu, who was sipping her porridge, glanced at her. She couldn’t tell if it was just her imagination, but Sheng Yunjin seemed a little off tonight.

It felt like… her attitude toward her was even more affectionate than usual.

Though Sheng Yunjin had always been this way with her before, still…

Chewing on the shrimp Sheng Yunjin had peeled for her, Si Mu curled her lips slightly. She was now very curious about what Sheng Yunjin wanted to say to her.

Si Ying had been discreetly observing the two of them out of the corner of her eye. She could tell that Si Mu and her friend were very close.

At the very least, much closer than she and Si Mu were.

A strange mix of emotions welled up inside her—admiration, but also a pang of loneliness.

Si Ying lowered her head and stirred the hot porridge in her bowl, suddenly finding it hard to swallow.

A small plate of peeled shrimp suddenly appeared in front of her. Si Ying froze, then looked up at Sheng Yunjin, who had just withdrawn her hand from across the table.

With a warm smile at her, Sheng Yunjin turned back to Si Mu and continued sharing amusing anecdotes from her classes that day.

Si Ying’s gaze shifted back to Si Mu, and when their eyes met, she instinctively looked away again.

She stared down at the plate of peeled shrimp in front of her, but after a long pause, she still only took slow, small sips of her plain porridge.

Truthfully, she didn’t like this kind of food.

Even if the restaurant was upscale, the dishes exquisite, and the prices steep.

She just didn’t enjoy it.

Perhaps Si Mu hadn’t looked deeply into Si Ying’s background. Her hometown favored spicy flavors—even if her family had been poor and couldn’t always afford meat, they would often eat homemade chili paste with their meals.

After moving here with Si Zhong, it had taken time for him to notice her preferences. But as they spent more time together, he remembered. So even though his own tastes were mild, he made sure the housekeeper prepared at least two strongly flavored dishes with every meal.

Originally, tonight was supposed to be her first time having dinner alone with Si Mu. Si Ying had thought that no matter what Si Mu chose to eat, she would be happy just being with her.

But now, for some reason, everything felt wrong.

She glanced at Sheng Yunjin across the table—she seemed to have an endless stream of things to say, always knowing just the right anecdotes to share with Si Mu, making her laugh.

By the end of the meal, Si Ying noticed that Sheng Yunjin had already finished two bowls of porridge.

She must have been really hungry.

Si Ying mused silently to herself.

In contrast, neither she nor Si Mu had even finished their first bowls—though Si Mu had eaten all the shrimp Sheng Yunjin peeled for her.

A sudden realization dawned on Si Ying: this restaurant wasn’t Si Mu’s favorite.

It was Sheng Yunjin’s.

Because Sheng Yunjin liked it, that’s why Si Mu chose this place.

But wasn’t today also her first time having a meal with Aunt Si Mu?

…

On the way back, Sheng Yunjin took the passenger seat in Si Mu’s car.

She glanced at Si Ying in the backseat through the rearview mirror—the child kept turning her head to gaze out the window, seemingly engrossed in the scenery outside.

During dinner, she had already noticed that the person across from her occasionally cast glances her way.

At first, Sheng Yunjin didn’t pay it much mind. After all, there were only three of them dining together, so it was natural for gazes to linger a bit longer.

Besides, today was her first time meeting Si Ying—it was perfectly normal for a child to be curious and scrutinize a stranger.

But later, Sheng Yunjin sensed something was off.

Her senses had always been sharp. Even though she had placed restrictions on herself, at such close proximity, she could still feel it.

Why did that little girl’s gaze carry malice when she looked at her?

Sheng Yunjin was puzzled. She didn’t recall provoking her in any way.

…

When the elevator reached the 34th floor, Si Mu was the first to grasp Sheng Yunjin’s wrist.

Meeting her questioning gaze, Si Mu remained composed. “Didn’t you have something to say to me? Let’s go straight to my place.”

Dazed, Sheng Yunjin nodded, then lowered her eyes to where Si Mu was holding her hand. She let out an “Oh” before breaking into a radiant smile.

…

Si Mu’s home was decorated in a minimalist style. Si Ying, wearing oversized slippers, stood awkwardly in the living room, overwhelmed.

She marveled inwardly at Si Mu’s wealth—the size of the living room alone was comparable to the entirety of her current living space.

Si Mu led her to the guest bedroom, with Sheng Yunjin trailing closely behind them.

Noticing the ill-fitting slippers on Si Ying’s feet, Si Mu frowned slightly. The housekeeper had forgotten to pack Si Ying’s own slippers.

“Make do with these for today. I’ll have someone bring properly sized ones tomorrow.”

Si Ying shook her head timidly. “It’s fine, these will do.”

Placing the bag of clothes on the desk, Si Mu didn’t respond but glanced at the bed instead. “The sheets and blankets were cleaned by housekeeping last week. They’re ready to use.”

Nodding, Si Ying set her backpack down on the desk as well.

Remembering something, Si Mu asked, “Is this desk suitable for homework? If not, we can get another one.”

Si Ying shook her head. “It’s fine. This desk is big enough.”

After guiding her through the bathroom’s functions, Si Mu glanced at Sheng Yunjin, who had been silently following her the whole time, and smiled helplessly.

“Then… why don’t you start on your homework?”

Pausing, she added hesitantly, “If you have any questions, you can come ask me.”

Si Ying nodded, watching as the door closed quietly in front of her.

…

The two settled on the balcony in the living room. Si Mu found her upright posture amusing.

“Is it something important? You seem very serious.”

Nodding, Sheng Yunjin straightened her back further. “Yes, very important.”

After a brief silence, Si Mu got up to pour two glasses of water.

From where she sat, Sheng Yunjin could clearly see the fridge stocked with mineral water and milk.

Smiling, Sheng Yunjin took the water cup handed to her by Si Mu and joked, “So it turns out that in private, Si Mu can survive on just water and milk.”

Without changing her expression, Si Mu stubbornly replied, “Yes, I’m doing just fine.”

Seeing her like this, Sheng Yunjin laughed even more heartily.

Si Mu sighed helplessly, “If you have something to say, just say it.”

With the atmosphere eased, Sheng Yunjin turned to look directly at her, then slowly spoke with a smile.

“I want to ask, when was the first time you saw me?”

“Was it at the JM store that time?”

The fingertips at her side curled slightly unconsciously, and Si Mu’s eyes flickered briefly with light.

She gazed at Sheng Yunjin’s smiling eyes and shook her head.

“No.”

Just as she thought.

Her heart was pounding at an incredible speed, and Sheng Yunjin couldn’t help but tighten her grip on the cup in her hand.

“Then when was it?”

Sheng Yunjin’s eyes were full of anticipation. The answer she was hoping for was a secret Si Mu had kept hidden in her heart for so long.

Looking at her with gentle eyes, Si Mu didn’t respond directly.

“Can I ask why you want to know this?”

Sheng Yunjin stared at her intently, then after a moment, she smiled provocatively.

“Because, half a month ago, on the day someone was sick, something happened that I couldn’t ignore.”

Looking puzzled, Si Mu watched her, trying to recall what had happened on the day she had a fever.

That day, it was Sheng Yunjin who had taken care of her the whole time.

But beyond that, Si Mu couldn’t remember anything else.

“Can’t you just tell me?”

Si Mu’s expression softened slightly as she looked at Sheng Yunjin, hoping she would reveal what had happened that day.

“No, you have to answer my question first.”

Unmoved, Sheng Yunjin turned her gaze away, her ears turning red.

If she kept looking, she felt she would surely succumb under Si Mu’s tender, deep gaze.

Si Mu smiled helplessly, her eyes falling on the bamboo leaf necklace Sheng Yunjin always wore around her neck.

“The first time I saw you was seven years ago.”

Sheng Yunjin’s gaze returned, her expression now carrying something indescribable.

So…

Did that mean Si Mu had liked her since seven years ago?

But… back then, Sheng Yunjin had just graduated from middle school…

Her feelings were complicated, and for a moment, Sheng Yunjin didn’t know what to say.

As if sensing her thoughts, Si Mu sighed softly.

“Why don’t you ask me when the second time I saw you was?”

Sheng Yunjin looked confused.

What did she mean? Wasn’t the second time at JM?

“Then, when was the second time?”

Si Mu took a sip of tea and replied softly, “Also seven years ago.”

Looking at her calm demeanor, Sheng Yunjin suddenly had an inkling.

“And the third time?”

“Seven years ago.”

“The fourth?”

“Seven years ago.”

“The fifth?”

“Seven years ago.”

Sheng Yunjin tirelessly asked again and again, and Si Mu tirelessly answered each time.

Except for the gradually reddening ears hidden beneath her hair.

Yes, starting seven years ago, she had dreamed of Sheng Yunjin almost every night.

Seven years ago.

Seven years ago.

Seven years ago.

Gazing at Si Mu’s softly outlined profile, Sheng Yunjin suddenly thought of something.

She lowered her eyes to look at her right hand.

Those inexplicable spells were something she suddenly mastered one day seven years ago.

…

Si Mu looked at Sheng Yunjin, who was lost in thought with her head lowered, and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

Snapping out of her reverie, Sheng Yunjin looked up at her with a relaxed expression.

“I just suddenly feel like we seem to have a special connection.”

Si Mu’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but she remained silent.

She thought it was probably more than just a simple connection.

A connection might allow two people to meet twice, five times, ten times…

Yet she had truly dreamed of Sheng Yunjin for seven years.

Seven years—over two thousand dreams that couldn’t simply be summed up with the word “fate.”

“So, can you tell me now? That thing you couldn’t forget from that day.”

Snapping back to reality, Si Mu gazed at her and spoke slowly.

Sheng Yunjin pressed her lips together, then rose from her seat and knelt before Si Mu, her hands resting on the armrests of Si Mu’s chair.

The distance between them shrank.

From this angle, Sheng Yunjin’s beautiful face looked even more delicate, her fair neck and straight collarbones fully visible to Si Mu.

This vantage point also allowed Si Mu to see the emotions in her eyes more clearly.

Those always-enticing peach blossom eyes blinked lightly as Sheng Yunjin smiled and looked into Si Mu’s gaze.

“You really don’t remember at all?”

The Sheng Yunjin before her seemed to overlap perfectly with the one from her dreams. Si Mu lowered her eyes to meet Sheng Yunjin’s smiling gaze, her heartbeat spiraling out of control.

Though Si Mu could feel the flush on her ears threatening to spread to her neck, she didn’t look away.

Shaking her head slowly, she murmured, “Mm, I can’t recall anything.”

The next moment, Sheng Yunjin leaned in slightly.

In that instant, Si Mu’s lips were captured in a kiss.

She stared at Sheng Yunjin’s face, now so close, her long lashes trembling uncontrollably before slowly fluttering shut.

…

With only the memory of being forcefully kissed by Si Mu last time, Sheng Yunjin closed her eyes and followed instinct, pressing her lips gently yet thoroughly against Si Mu’s.

Their bodies pressed together, and Si Mu unconsciously gripped the fabric at Sheng Yunjin’s shoulders.

…

After what felt like an eternity, the kiss ended, and Sheng Yunjin slowly opened her eyes.

Her hands had somehow slipped from the armrests to rest on Si Mu’s slender waist.

Her lips still tingling, Sheng Yunjin chuckled softly before tilting her head up to speak.

“Just like this. That day, you kissed me just like this.”

Pausing, as if remembering something, she inched closer to Si Mu, who was still catching her breath.

“But after you kissed me, you fell asleep!”

“And what’s worse, when you woke up, you forgot all about it!”

“I was the only one who remembered!”

Pushed back step by step, Si Mu found herself pressed against the chair, letting Sheng Yunjin close the distance without restraint.

Hearing the faint resentment in her tone, Si Mu earnestly tried to recall that day.

It had been the day after Sheng Yunjin said she didn’t want a relationship yet.

Disheartened, Si Mu had resolved to keep her distance. So even though Sheng Yunjin had taken care of her that day, once she sobered up, Si Mu had left without hesitation.

Putting herself in Sheng Yunjin’s shoes, Si Mu realized she’d probably be just as upset.

Still slightly breathless, Si Mu looked down at her with a soft pant.

Though her words were accusatory, Sheng Yunjin’s expression held no trace of anger—only a faint amusement and a rare hint of playful pouting.

And in the eyes fixed on her was unmistakable joy and love.

Si Mu smiled tenderly before leaning in once more, pressing another kiss to the corner of Sheng Yunjin’s lips.

The strands of hair at the back of her head cascaded down her slender back with her movements, the ends lightly brushing against Sheng Yunjin’s hand.

The fine black strands pressed against the pale skin of her hand, mingling with the evening breeze in an intimate, lingering dance.

“My mistake. Will this make up for it?”

The corners of her lips unconsciously lifted as Sheng Yunjin tightened her embrace around her waist.

“Mmm… barely acceptable.”

Amused and adoring at her tsundere act, Si Mu had no choice but to repeat her earlier trick. Just as their lips were about to meet, Sheng Yunjin leaned in to meet her halfway.

But Si Mu paused, gazing at her flushed lips.

After waiting in vain, Sheng Yunjin frowned in confusion. “Weren’t you going to kiss me again?”

Si Mu watched the faint redness at the corners of her eyes, her heartbeat quickening uncontrollably.

“But I seem to recall someone saying they didn’t want to date for now.”

Sheng Yunjin’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise, instinctively retorting, “Who said that? I never—”

Mid-sentence, realization dawned, and her voice trailed off.

She had said that—but it was during a conversation with Lin Xiaoyu.

A flicker of guilt crossed her face as she lowered her gaze to meet Si Mu’s.

“You heard that day?”

Lazily toying with the bamboo leaf pendant resting on Sheng Yunjin’s collarbone, Si Mu hummed in acknowledgment.

Expecting a confession or an apology, Si Mu was caught off guard by Sheng Yunjin’s next words.

Leaning in with a grin, Sheng Yunjin teased, “No wonder you were giving me the cold shoulder the next day—you were sulking over what I said the night before, huh?”

Si Mu’s eyes darted away, unwilling to admit to such pettiness. “No.”

But Sheng Yunjin wasn’t about to let her off. She playfully chased Si Mu’s gaze, ensuring she remained the sole focus no matter where Si Mu tried to look.

Si Mu couldn’t help but laugh. She never knew Sheng Yunjin could be this mischievous.

Cupping Sheng Yunjin’s face to stop her antics, Si Mu pressed a thumb lightly against her flushed lips, amused by how red her cheeks grew.

Then, leaning in slightly, the loose V-neck of her blouse revealed a glimpse of fair skin, sending Sheng Yunjin’s temperature soaring.

Noticing her stare, Si Mu smirked before closing the distance and nipping lightly at her lips.

“You were just too slow to notice.”

The faint sting and lingering tingling sensation left Sheng Yunjin dizzy.

She understood what Si Mu meant.

Turning her head slightly, she pressed a featherlight kiss to Si Mu’s jawline.

“You’re right,” Sheng Yunjin murmured. “I was too slow.”

…

By the time Sheng Yunjin left, it was already 10 p.m. Alone in her study, Si Mu sat before her glowing computer screen, her thoughts too scattered to focus.

The memories of earlier played in her mind, her cheeks warming. Forcing herself to push them aside, she finally regained her usual composed demeanor and turned her attention to the documents before her.

…

In the guest bedroom, Si Ying stared at her homework, hesitating for a long time before finally mustering the courage to ask Si Mu for help.

Her math and English grades had always been poor. At home, Si Zhong would sit beside her, watching her do her homework and explaining each problem one by one.

Sometimes, if Si Ying didn’t understand, Si Zhong would patiently explain it to her a second or even a third time.

But now…

Facing Si Mu, Si Ying didn’t want to be like this.

She felt that if she was too slow to understand Si Mu’s explanations, it would be embarrassing.

She didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of Si Mu.

…

Tossing and turning in bed, Sheng Yunjin found herself too excited to sleep.

She and Si Mu were together.

She was really with Si Mu.

Her fingers unconsciously traced circles in the air, and suddenly, the bottles and jars on the vanity inexplicably floated into the air. Even the plush toys on the sofa began dancing midair.

Lying on her back, Sheng Yunjin watched the floating objects, her mind replaying the moments she had just shared with Si Mu. The thought made her lips curl into an unstoppable smile.

Her legs kicked restlessly against the sheets as she bit her lip, her bright gaze fixed on the ceiling above.

Si Mu lived right upstairs.

They were so close.

Her joy didn’t fade with time. If anything, her heart still raced wildly.

Just the thought of Si Mu—even just her name—made Sheng Yunjin grin uncontrollably.

As the night deepened and her excitement grew, even the bed beneath her began to rise uncontrollably.

By the time Sheng Yunjin finally regained her senses and realized she was losing control, it was already 1 a.m. Yawning sleepily, she watched as all the floating objects slowly returned to their places.

Unbeknownst to her, the neatly arranged potted plants on the balcony had also inexplicably sprouted tiny flowers.

…

The next morning, Sheng Yunjin woke up unusually early. She lay there for a while, smiling at the ceiling before finally getting out of bed in high spirits.

After a quick wash, she changed into workout clothes and headed downstairs for a morning jog.

Since starting her regular early-morning classes, she hadn’t had time for her usual runs.

It was just past 5 a.m., and the faint light of dawn colored the sky.

Though it was already September, autumn hadn’t fully arrived—only the mornings and evenings carried a slight chill.

After running for over an hour, Sheng Yunjin walked back home, not even slightly out of breath.

She could feel it—her control over magic had grown stronger recently, and her physical abilities had improved alongside it.

That morning, she had also noticed the tiny flowers blooming on the balcony’s potted plants.

If it had just been one or two, it wouldn’t have been strange. But all ten of them had bloomed at once.

Sheng Yunjin couldn’t help but connect it to her uncontrolled magic the night before.

Could it really be because of her?

Staring at her right hand, she found it all too surreal.

What kind of magic could even alter a plant’s growth cycle?

Her fingers curled slightly as Sheng Yunqing suddenly looked up at the already bright morning sky.

Though she’d never tried it before, Sheng Yunqing felt an inexplicable confidence.

If she wanted to, she could probably take flight right then and there.

…

Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought.

This was the modern era—it was better to abide by society’s rules and stay civilized.

Glancing at her watch, she noted it was just past six. Normally, she and Si Mu wouldn’t leave for the company until eight-thirty.

With nearly two hours to spare, she decided she could go back and bake some cookies.

Yesterday, when she’d peeked into Si Mu’s fridge, it was clear she didn’t eat breakfast.

Making some cookies would give her a nice little snack to munch on.

Recalling the small cake Si Mu had brought her last time, Sheng Yunqing had fed her a bite, but Si Mu didn’t seem to like it much.

Too sweet, perhaps?

Frowning slightly, she considered reducing the sugar this time.

Would Si Mu even like them?

Lost in thought, she stepped into the elevator—then suddenly, her ears twitched.

Instinctively, she looked up at the ceiling of the compartment.

A faint mechanical whirring reached her, and a sense of unease settled in her chest. Slowly, she leaned back against the wall.

Two seconds later, the elevator plummeted downward at terrifying speed.

After a few heart-stopping moments, the cabin stabilized—but the lights went out.

Sheng Yunqing exhaled sharply and glanced at the display panel. Sure enough, the numbers had malfunctioned, replaced by a blinking red line.

She pressed every floor button, then, lips pressed tight, hit the emergency call button.

Fortunately, the building’s maintenance was on duty. After reporting her location, she stood quietly in the corner, waiting.

The cabin remained pitch black. Without her phone, she couldn’t check the time on her watch, so she silently counted the minutes in her head.

Ten minutes passed—still no response.

Her lips thinned as she pressed the call button again.

This time, no one answered.

Suppressing her frustration, she stared at the tightly sealed doors, fingers twitching at her sides.

Another sudden drop.

Eyes lowered, she braced herself against the wall.

Glancing at the security camera, she subtly tucked her right hand behind her back—then conjured a spell.

The cabin jerked to a halt.

Sheng Yunqing let out a slow breath.

…

That morning, Si Mu had woken up an hour earlier than usual to take Si Ying to school.

The girl trailed beside her, backpack slung over her shoulders, stealing glances at Si Mu’s expression.

Though her face was as cool and detached as ever, Si Ying could’ve sworn she seemed… happier today.

On the way down, Si Mu noticed one of the elevators was out of order.

She paid it no mind, taking the other one instead.

But as the elevator descended, an inexplicable dread coiled in her chest.

Had she been able to see it, she would’ve noticed the faint red glow emanating from the bamboo leaf mark hidden beneath her clothes, right over her heart.

Pulling out her phone, she hesitated—then dialed Sheng Yunqing’s number.

The phone kept ringing unanswered, making Si Mu increasingly uneasy.

At one point, the elevator stopped on the fifteenth floor. During the brief pause, Si Mu spotted maintenance workers and property staff bustling around another elevator nearby.

Just as the doors were closing, she caught a snippet of the property manager’s voice.

“…Miss Sheng, please don’t worry. The technician is working on the repairs now…”

The closing elevator doors abruptly halted. Si Mu pressed her lips tightly together, her fingers firmly pressing the door-open button