After the Sickly Child Differentiates into A - Chapter 14

Seeing Sun Xiaoxiao covered in question marks, Zhou Cheng didn’t know how to explain either. She let out an exasperated sigh. “This is how it always goes in anime people who smile with their eyes closed are terrifying wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

“They’re two-faced.”

Sun Xiaoxiao only grew more confused. “What’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing? And what does ‘two-faced’ mean, Chengcheng-jie?”

Zhou Cheng smacked her forehead and gave up. “Never mind, just go play with her.”

This, Sun Xiaoxiao understood. She nodded cheerfully. “Okay! I really like playing with Lin Li!”

Zhou Cheng covered her face and waved a hand in defeat.

Meanwhile, Wen Jingzhi exchanged a few more words with Zhou Shao before the latter took his leave. Wen Jingzhi had originally planned to take Lin Li to grab something to eat, but the head of the Sun family soon approached with a drink in hand.

It was Sun Xiaoxiao’s two mothers. The Sun family consisted of a female Alpha and Omega pairing, which wasn’t uncommon in their social circle.

The two mothers had come to express their gratitude to Wen Jingzhi for previously inviting Sun Xiaoxiao over.

The Sun family held considerable status, though it still fell short of the Wen family’s influence.

Among the elite circles of the capital, the Wen family stood alone as the only one with military connections.

The former heads of the Wen family, the old master Wen and Wen Jingzhi’s parents had all come from military backgrounds. Though the old master had retired years ago and Wen Jingzhi’s parents had sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, the Wen family maintained close ties with the military. As a result, every family in their circle longed to forge connections with them.

But the Wen family was notoriously low-key, making it nearly impossible to even send gifts their way. The Sun family had never imagined that their daughter would be the one to bridge this gap.

They weren’t greedy people, understanding propriety and the necessary boundaries. They didn’t bring up any business matters, simply chatting briefly with Wen Jingzhi about the children before greeting Lin Li and taking their leave.

After that, several more groups came to speak with Wen Jingzhi, leaving Lin Li bored at her side.

The banquet hall’s ventilation system was running continuously, keeping the scents light. Everyone here was well-bred and wouldn’t casually release their pheromones.

Lin Li didn’t feel uncomfortable, just plain bored.

She didn’t understand why these adults kept walking around holding ‘water’ that smelled a bit like the liquor her grandmother brewed, but not quite.

They would chat with someone, clink glasses, drink the ‘water,’ then quickly move on to the next person.

Honestly, why were there so many people?

What was even happening?

And why had Grandpa Wen introduced her to all of them?

She didn’t understand any of it.

Nor did she care.

Most importantly,

She was hungry.

Wen Jingzhi signaled a server, set down her empty champagne flute, and picked up a fresh one. Her cool gaze dropped to Lin Li. “Do you want something to eat?”

Lin Li nodded immediately. “Yes.”

The quick answer confirmed she was truly starving.

A faint twinge of guilt pricked Wen Jingzhi for not taking better care of the child. She dismissed the next person trying to approach and, drink in hand, led Lin Li to the kitchen.

None of the banquet food was something Lin Li had eaten before, and Wen Jingzhi didn’t dare let her try it.

The kitchen always kept her meals and medicine ready.

Upon entering, Wen Jingzhi raised a hand to stop the chefs from assisting. She casually set her glass on the counter, personally retrieved the food, then took Lin Li’s hand and left.

Finding an unoccupied sofa in a corner of the banquet hall, Wen Jingzhi set down the dishes before sitting with Lin Li in her lap, settling the girl beside her. She picked up the bowl of porridge, scooped a small spoonful, and brought it to Lin Li’s lips.

Lin Li froze momentarily.

She usually fed herself. During her time at the Wen household, she’d only been fed a handful of times mostly by Wen Jingzhi. With the latter’s prolonged absence, she’d grown accustomed to eating independently. The sudden gesture caught her off guard.

When Lin Li didn’t respond, Wen Jingzhi glanced at the vegetable-and-meat-mixed porridge in her hand. “Don’t want this?”

“No.” Lin Li shook her head, taking the spoonful with a quiet, “Thank you, sister.”

Though they sat in an obscure corner, Wen Jingzhi was a radiant presence impossible to ignore.

Dozens of eyes noted their interaction. Wen Jingzhi’s expression remained impassive, yet her actions gentle, patient spoonfuls for the child stood in stark contrast.

So the ‘Fourth Young Miss’ was doted upon, even by the famously aloof Third Young Miss.

Among the mingling crowd near the stage, someone spotted them and remarked to Wen Xihe with a smile, “The Third Young Miss certainly spoils the little miss.”

Wen Xihe paused, lifting her gaze to her sister before chuckling. “Indeed.”

And not just ordinary spoiling.

After exchanging a few words, Wen Xihe set down her glass and headed toward Wen Jingzhi, only for a hand to catch her wrist. Recognizing the person, she arched a brow. “Thought you weren’t coming.”

“Just arrived.” Lin Ye released her with a grin, eyeing Wen Jingzhi. “Off to see your little sister?”

“Tired of socializing. Escaping for a bit.” Wen Xihe shrugged. “Join me?”

Lin Ye smirked. “Gladly.”

Meanwhile, Wen Xize stood beside the family patriarch, engrossed in networking. His gaze drifted to the corner where his three sisters lounged effortlessly on the sofa.

He sighed, wishing he could hide too.

Wen Jingzhi set aside the empty bowl, dabbing Lin Li’s mouth with a napkin. “Full?”

Before Lin Li could answer, Wen Xihe cut in, “She always eats that little. Definitely full.”

Ignoring her, Wen Jingzhi kept her eyes on Lin Li, who nodded with a smile. “I’m full.”

“Mn.”

Only then did Wen Jingzhi signal a waiter to clear the dishes. Shortly after, a servant brought Lin Li’s medicine, which Wen Jingzhi proceeded to feed her personally.

Wen Xihe propped her chin on her hand, watching with amused disbelief.

After a moment, she turned to Lin Ye. “Late because of work?”

Lin Ye sipped her wine. “Had to escort my so-called father to the station for tea.”

“Oh?” Wen Xihe raised a brow. “Throwing another tantrum at the company?”

“Mhm.” Lin Ye set down her glass. “Came waving the last scraps of his shares, demanding reinstatement to the board.”

Wen Xihe laughed. “You actually left him with any?”

“Closed the net too fast missed a few percentage points.” Lin Ye tossed her hair, sharpness glinting in her eyes. “But he’s powerless now.”

Wen Xihe smiled, letting the topic drop.

The Lin family started in the catering business. In those years, their momentum was fierce, quickly breaking into the elite circles of the capital. The head of the Lin family was a male Alpha, and after his status rose, he married a wealthy heiress, further elevating his standing.

But, as Alphas as men often do, once they gain wealth and power, they struggle to restrain themselves. The family head began keeping mistresses.

Lin Ye was the child born to a famous model from Country H, one of the family head’s kept women.

Colloquially known as an illegitimate daughter.

The heiress the Lin family married came from an even more prestigious background, and she wasn’t the type to tolerate such behavior. Once she found out, she swiftly took action, purging all the women clinging to the family head.

Lin Ye’s mother was soon exposed in an affair scandal, her career plummeting. Addicted to love and unable to let go of the family head, she languished in depression for years before passing away.

Naturally, Lin Ye’s story became one of an illegitimate daughter seeking revenge.

But in truth, she didn’t harbor much hatred for her so-called father. What she coveted more were the Lin family’s wealth and power.

Even if she was illegitimate, why shouldn’t she fight for what was rightfully hers?

Not only would she fight, she intended to swallow it all whole.

Lin Ye was shrewd and ruthless. Using her engagement to the Chen family as a pretext, she swiftly entered the Lin family’s sights. Then, leveraging the influence she had cultivated abroad, she began devouring the Lin enterprises piece by piece.

As for the Chen family? That was purely because Chen Qing had disgusted her, so she targeted them in passing.

The heiress’s family business also suffered a massive blow from Lin Ye’s schemes, even getting embroiled in a tax evasion scandal. They had no choice but to sever ties with the Lin family to save themselves, cutting off an arm to survive.

Lin Ye’s smooth success was also thanks to Wen Xihe’s assistance. With the Wen family backing her, losing was nearly impossible.

Wen Jingzhi overheard bits of the story, turning it over in her mind without comment. After feeding Lin Li her medicine, she leaned back against the sofa and closed her eyes to rest.

Wen Xihe, dressed in an evening gown, couldn’t easily hold Lin Li, so she sat nearby to play with her instead. Lin Ye sat across from her, and as she teased Lin Li, her gaze kept drifting toward Lin Ye.

That exotic, striking face was exactly her type.

Wen Xihe and Lin Ye had met at university in Country H. They’d been friends ever since, though Lin Ye’s initial motives for approaching her had been obvious. Still, Wen Xihe didn’t feel hurt or resentful, nor did she think Lin Ye was in the wrong.

Their years of friendship were genuine, and the benefits they’d gained were real.

This collaboration had profited Wen Xihe just as much as Lin Ye.

She’d secured 20% of the shares in Global, a joint venture between the Lin, Chen, and Li families, making her a major shareholder.

Both Melody Entertainment and Global were entertainment companies. Though Global’s reputation wasn’t stellar and its resources couldn’t compare to Melody’s, it was still the third-largest entertainment company in the country, a coveted prize.

Businesspeople prioritized profit before sentiment.

And as it happened, both Wen Xihe and Lin Ye were excellent businesswomen.

This deal had brought them gains without damaging their relationship.

A win-win.

Both sides were satisfied.

After resting for a while, Wen Jingzhi and Wen Xihe stood, picking up their wine glasses to return to the social fray. Lin Ye had only come to see Wen Xihe, so she stayed behind to watch over Lin Li.

But Lin Li wasn’t familiar with her and rarely spoke unprompted. Lin Ye had no experience with children and didn’t know how to make conversation. After a long, silent standoff, both gave up, Lin Li stared blankly at the crowd while Lin Ye pulled out her phone to handle work.

At midnight, Wen Xize personally wheeled out an eight-tier cake. Wen Chende held Lin Li as they made the first cut together. After the birthday song finished, the longevity celebration was complete.

By 2 a.m., the banquet had ended.

Lin Li, struggling to stay awake, was already drowsy, her eyelids heavy. Wen Jingzhi, who had drunk quite a bit, had a faint pink flush on her pale cheeks. Watching the yawning child in front of her, she curled her lips into a smile. “Sleepy?”

Lin Li instinctively nodded, rubbing her eyes.

For once, she actually seemed like a child her age, no longer putting on that practiced, squinty smile.

“Let me carry you to bed,” Wen Jingzhi said, not minding her evening gown as she scooped Lin Li up and headed to the third floor. Opening the door, she glanced at the slightly wrinkled little suit the girl was wearing and teased, “Need me to help you change?”

Lin Li, barely able to keep her eyes open, suddenly snapped awake, widening her eyes in surprise. She shook her hands. “No need, sis, I can do it myself.”

Her sister would actually say something like that.

It wasn’t like her usual self.

Her tiny brain couldn’t possibly grasp that Wen Jingzhi was tipsy, her rationality slightly offline, which was why she’d made such an over-the-line suggestion.

But Wen Jingzhi hadn’t actually planned to help the child change, she was just teasing her.

Satisfied with the reaction she’d gotten, Wen Jingzhi set her down, gave a little wave, and left the room.

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