Forced into a Secret Marriage with the Villain, We Now Have a Child - Chapter 40

Outside, the dawn light gradually brightened, filtering through the curtains and casting a hazy glow across the room. Inside, under the soft hum of the electric lights, Jian Chun knelt to dress her daughter.

Jian Niannian was not yet fully awake. Beneath her tousled hair, her little mouth pouted. She had a pair of eyes that were the spitting image of Yu Siyi’s; they fluttered open and shut as she tried to steal a few more moments of sleep.

“Niannian, do you want to wear a little dress? How about this one? Or is it too thin?” Jian Chun returned one outfit to the rack and pulled out another, feeling the fabric. “Will this work? Let’s see—should we wear it as an inner or outer layer?”

Niannian’s wardrobe was grand and beautiful, designed entirely in shades of pink with patterns of butterflies and blossoms. Inside, the clothes for summer, winter, and the transitional seasons were neatly categorized. When Jian Chun had first seen it, she had been quite stunned. Having not been raised in luxury herself, a life where one wanted for nothing felt foreign and distant. Now that she was experiencing it, she felt a mixture of bittersweet reflection and gratitude.

She was glad the little girl was born into such a family; a little princess deserved to grow up in such an environment, forever happy and carefree. As for herself, she was “thick-skinned” enough to weather any storm.

A Mother’s Touch

Niannian allowed herself to be handled like an adorable, life-sized porcelain doll. Jian Chun, however, was quite clumsy; this was her first time dressing someone else. After several minutes of frantic activity, the lingering awkwardness of her morning wake-up call finally began to fade.

Once the clothes were changed, Jian Chun turned her attention to Niannian’s hair. A child’s hair is as soft as the finest silk. Jian Chun had learned to braid her own hair in the fourth grade; back then, children proved their independence through chores and hairstyling. She used to think she was quite skilled—three-strand, four-strand, even centipede braids—but facing this little girl, she hesitated.

This was the first time she had ever styled someone else’s hair. However, as Niannian’s mother, she felt it was only right to show her love through these small details of daily life.

“Niannian, how do you want your hair done today?” Jian Chun asked.

“Small braids. Mother said not to let it block my eyes.”

Jian Chun froze for a moment at the mention of Yu Siyi. As her hands moved, her mind raced back to their current situation—a problem she had been actively avoiding. Just yesterday, she felt her relationship with Yu Siyi was harmonious. That harmony wasn’t just about their age or their shared history as classmates; it was in the way Yu Siyi treated her. Because of that treatment, the signals Jian Chun received were changing her reactions.

She couldn’t fathom what attitude she should take toward the current Yu Siyi. A realization struck her: If she could travel between the past and the present, had she altered history? If Yu Siyi’s affection for her had changed at some point in the past, and the present version of Yu Siyi was eventually affected by those changes, then only one outcome awaited Jian Chun: Divorce.

Jian Chun bit her lower lip, remembering what she had asked Yu Siyi. Yu Siyi didn’t love her.

Her heart felt like a tangled mess of hope and the crushing fear of disappointment. She let out a deep sigh. Regardless of the outcome, she and Yu Siyi had become “good friends”—though she feared that might just be her own wishful thinking.

“Mama, are you unhappy?” Niannian asked, looking at their reflection in the mirror.

“I’m happy. I’m always happy when I see you,” Jian Chun said, ruffling the girl’s hair. The child was incredibly perceptive and unexpectedly sensible for her age.

Morning Encounters

Jian Chun eventually managed to tie Niannian’s hair into two neat ponytails, braided and wound into buns with a small flower accessory. Satisfied, she led Niannian out of the room. As they passed the master bedroom, Niannian thoughtfully stopped and looked at Jian Chun.

Jian Chun signaled for her to be quiet. They crept toward the door like little thieves. Inside, the bed was neatly made and the room was empty. Yu Siyi, ever disciplined, was likely out for her morning run.

“Stay here for a moment, Mama needs to change,” Jian Chun said, placing Niannian on the sofa.

While searching for clothes, Jian Chun realized she had actually been accidentally wearing Yu Siyi’s clothes for some time. She grabbed an outfit and headed to the bathroom, only to freeze. Yu Siyi was already inside, dressing.

Having likely just showered, Yu Siyi’s long hair was damp and loose. Behind the translucent glass, her figure was as graceful as fine jade. Every movement felt like a slow-motion shot from a film. Jian Chun’s breath hitched. She looked away quickly, then felt that her avoidance was too obvious.

Yu Siyi donned her bathrobe and stepped out. Seeing Jian Chun, she moved aside.

“Morning,” Jian Chun managed, forcing a smile.

“Morning,” Yu Siyi replied with a faint smile. Her eyes lit up when she spotted the child. “Niannian.”

“Good morning, Mother~” Niannian greeted her formally.

Breakfast and Partings

Downstairs, the atmosphere was quiet. Jian Chun sat next to Yu Siyi, but a noticeable gap remained between them. They ate in silence, the only sound being the clinking of spoons against porcelain.

The breakfast was delicious—steamed buns with preserved greens and meat (Meicai Roubao), soft and savory. Jian Chun ate quickly but mindfully, aware of her appearance.

After breakfast, Yu Siyi wiped the corners of Niannian’s mouth. “I have to go to the film set today. I won’t be back for a while. Call me if anything happens.”

Jian Chun felt a pang of guilt. “How long will you be gone? Have you packed everything?”

“Not long,” Yu Siyi replied gently. She then turned to Niannian, instructing her to be good, listen to her mother, and do her homework. Finally, she turned to Jian Chun.

“Remember to take your flower tea to school. Protect your throat, and come home early to sleep.”

It was only three sentences. Jian Chun looked at her, bewildered. This version of Yu Siyi—warm and motherly—was a far cry from the aloof megastar with tens of millions of fans seen online.

As Yu Siyi drove them to school, the silence in the car was heavy.

“Yu Siyi, I’m sorry,” Jian Chun whispered suddenly.

She wanted to say more—about her impulsiveness, her cowardice, her lack of trust—but only those four words came out.

Yu Siyi turned to look at her. “But you haven’t done anything to be sorry for.” Her smile was brilliant, yet it left Jian Chun feeling a strange mix of relief and melancholy.

Back at Hanhai High

After dropping Niannian off at kindergarten, the car arrived at Hanhai High School.

“Good luck with work. Be safe on the road. I’m going to class now. Goodbye,” Jian Chun said, forcing a cheerful tone.

As the car disappeared into traffic, Jian Chun turned toward the school gates. The familiar architecture of the gates—the vintage style with carved stone pillars—brought back memories of her own student days. She used to be the student caught for being late; now, she was the teacher who could walk in late with relative impunity.

At the gate, she ran into a familiar student, Jin Ziye, who was being scolded by the old security guard for being late—again.

“Teacher…” Jin Ziye mumbled, swallowing the word “Big Sis” he usually used.

Jian Chun suppressed a cold laugh. “Late again, I see?”

As they walked toward the teaching building, Jin Ziye followed her like a dejected large dog. He was struggling with a secret: he had seen Jian Chun and Yu Siyi together at a banquet the night before. To him, Yu Siyi had always been the “perfect role model” his parents used to criticize his own rebelliousness. Now, he realized that the legendary Yu Siyi was actually his “Teacher’s Wife” (Shimu).

The revelation was almost too much for his teenage brain to handle.

“Come to my office at noon,” Jian Chun commanded as they reached the second floor. “And bring your workbook.