Forced into a Secret Marriage with the Villain, We Now Have a Child - Chapter 54.1

Jian Chun felt significantly lighter after the half-hour massage the previous night, but years of accumulated strain weren’t something that would vanish overnight. She recalled seeing a few medicated patches in her drawer, but her pride as a “young woman” made her reluctant to use them. She considered buying a massage chair, though she worried that using it daily might eat into her precious study time.

When Jian Chun woke up the next morning, Yu Siyi was already up with her.

While Jian Chun was in the bathroom, Yu Siyi walked in as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She stood by the sink, letting the hot water run as steam began to fog up the room. Her long hair draped down her back, a few stray strands dancing in the humidity.

Jian Chun, still groggy, watched her with a dazed smile. There was something inherently comical about seeing the ethereal Yu Siyi in such a domestic setting.

Then, her brain fully processed the situation. Wait… I’m using the toilet, and she’s just in here washing her face!

Suddenly, her bodily functions came to a grinding halt.

“Could you… maybe go out for a second?” Jian Chun muttered, her voice half-awake and slightly petulant.

The sound of running water drowned her out. Yu Siyi turned around, looking just as drowsy and confused.

Jian Chun’s temper flared. She gripped her waistband tighter, her face flushing. “Yu Siyi, get out!”

Yu Siyi blinked, her gaze misty.

“I can’t… go while you’re standing there!” Jian Chun blurted out, her ears burning red.

Yu Siyi suddenly broke into a brilliant, indulgent smile. She didn’t mind Jian Chun’s sharp tone at all. She reached out, turned off the water, and exited the room, pulling the somewhat flimsy glass door shut behind her.

Left alone with the steaming sink, Jian Chun finally felt a wave of relief.

By the time Jian Chun finished her morning routine and stepped out, Yu Siyi had already laid out an outfit on the bed.

“I picked this for you. Wear it today,” Yu Siyi said.

It was a simple white long-sleeved cotton shirt with a ribbon at the collar that could be tied into a bow, paired with a heavy black midi skirt. Beside it lay a khaki trench coat—perfect for the unpredictable spring weather. Jian Chun usually dressed for comfort, but since Yu Siyi loved playing stylist, she didn’t object.

She took the clothes into the dressing room to change. Back in her previous life, she had lived in dorms where privacy was a luxury and showering in cramped communal stalls was the norm. But now, for some reason, she felt a strange self-consciousness around Yu Siyi. She dressed quickly, sprayed some toner on her face, and applied a bit of moisturizer.

Natural beauty will have to do, she thought.

She hurried downstairs, fumbling with her sleeve buttons as she went. The aroma of breakfast had already filled the house, signaling her stomach that it was time to eat.

They were having wontons with various fillings. Jian Chun added a generous amount of chili and vinegar to her bowl, then remembered someone’s warning about protecting her throat and reluctantly put some of the chili back.

As she ate, she heard Jian Niannian’s energetic chatter from upstairs. The little girl was always a ball of fire in the morning, especially when her mother was home. Her giggles echoed through the living room as Yu Siyi carried her down.

Jian Chun managed a tired smile. Her “old bones” really couldn’t handle late nights anymore.

Niannian hugged Jian Chun’s leg and gave her a loud, wet kiss on the cheek. Yu Siyi leaned in as well, but Jian Chun blocked her with a hand.

“Are you a child too?” Jian Chun asked, her voice dry.

Yu Siyi put on a mock-pouty expression and sat down. Niannian giggled and climbed into her own chair, waiting for her breakfast.

Jian Chun managed to put away fourteen wontons, chewing slowly to savor the bone broth. Niannian had ten, but she couldn’t finish them all, so Yu Siyi helped her out. Yu Siyi was as disciplined as ever with her intake but made sure to eat plenty of greens. In an era of widescreen displays, maintaining a small face for the camera was a professional necessity.

Jian Chun watched them, feeling so satisfied she thought she could go for a second bowl, but a quick pat of her stomach reminded her that she really needed to get back to exercising.

Yu Siyi put on a hat and carried Niannian out to the car. As Uncle Liu backed out the vehicle, Yu Siyi tapped on the window. “I’ll take them today.”

Niannian hopped into the back while Yu Siyi took the driver’s seat. Jian Chun hesitated for a moment before deciding to sit in the back with Niannian.

The ride was filled with Niannian’s non-stop chatter about the upcoming Children’s Day performance. It was still two months away, but the teachers were already hyping it up. She also proudly mentioned that she had gotten a perfect score on her dictation test.

“We’re here!” Niannian chirped as the school came into view.

After dropping the little girl off, Jian Chun moved to the front passenger seat. As she buckled her seatbelt, she felt Yu Siyi’s gaze on her.

“What?” Jian Chun asked.

“I just realized you look even more beautiful today,” Yu Siyi said smoothly.

“…” Jian Chun gave a cold, dry laugh. “Didn’t you say I was fat yesterday?”

“That was yesterday. Today is a new day.”

Jian Chun clicked her tongue. “Your words are about as reliable as a fart.”

Yu Siyi just smiled, steering the car into the morning traffic.

They took the outer ring road to avoid the city center’s congestion. When they reached the high school gates, Jian Chun still had plenty of time.

She was about to unbuckle her belt when Yu Siyi caught her hand. Yu Siyi’s hand was slender yet firm, her porcelain skin flawless.

“What now?” Jian Chun asked, looking at her.

“I think you should kiss me before you go.”

“Don’t you find that a bit… greasy?” Jian Chun countered.

“We are in a romantic relationship,” Yu Siyi said with a straight face.

Jian Chun wanted to point out that they had been married for years and had a child, but she stayed quiet, knowing where that argument would lead. She didn’t mind the idea of a kiss, but she wasn’t used to this kind of physical intimacy so soon after “officially” starting to date. It felt too fast.

Plus, did she put on makeup today? What’s on her face? Wait… maybe it doesn’t have to be the cheek; maybe the lips…

Jian Chun was startled by her own train of thought and bit her lip.

“Are you… sexually repressed?” Yu Siyi asked suddenly.

“…” Jian Chun glared at her in stunned silence. She pushed Yu Siyi’s hand away, got out of the car, and slammed the door with a satisfying thump.

This was the second time her libido had been questioned. She was fuming.

Jian Chun didn’t have classes in the morning, but she still wandered by her classroom to check on her students and see how Peng Zhiyang was doing.

Peng Zhiyang was still a bit of an outsider, but his classmates were being supportive, offering him notes and encouragement. Jian Chun checked in on his progress, then looked toward Jin Ziye.

Jin Ziye was acting like a total idiot, staring at his phone and then doodling aimlessly.

Yu Siyi said she was treating him to lunch! He was currently debating whether he should go home and change into a suit and slick back his hair to look more “mature.”

Jian Chun ignored his foolishness, gave a few words of encouragement to the struggling students, and went to lunch with Yi Xueyang.

“Where’s your friend today? I actually quite liked her,” Yi Xueyang lamented, referring to Ling Zheng.

“Do you like her more than Yu Siyi?” Jian Chun asked grumpily.

“You can’t compare them! But Ling Zheng is… you know, reachable.”

Yu Siyi spent the morning exercising and reading scripts. Around noon, she showered, put on light makeup, and told the housekeepers she wouldn’t be back for lunch.

She had booked a private room at a hotel near the school—a place where her family had investments, ensuring both privacy and safety.

Jin Ziye arrived before her, sweating and looking incredibly nervous. When Yu Siyi walked in, he nearly lost his composure. Even if he wasn’t a superfan, seeing a superstar in person was a heart-pounding experience.

“Hello, Shimu (Teacher’s Wife),” he stammered.

“Sit down,” Yu Siyi said warmly, handing him the menu.

“I wanted to thank you properly for your help,” she continued. “Saying it over the phone didn’t feel sincere enough.”

“You don’t have to be so polite,” Jin Ziye said, his usual bravado completely gone.

“I do. If your family hadn’t helped clear things up, I don’t know if I would have found a better way.”

She poured him a glass of lemon tea. Jin Ziye felt like he was dreaming—he was actually having lunch with Yu Siyi and she was pouring him water!

“I originally wanted to invite your father as well, but involving parents makes things… complicated,” she explained.

“It’s fine! I can represent my dad,” Jin Ziye assured her.

“Good. If you ever need help with anything in the future, don’t hesitate to ask.”

By the end of the meal, Yu Siyi dropped the bombshell. “By the way, you don’t have to keep an eye on your teacher for me anymore.”

“No, no! It’s an honor to serve you!” Jin Ziye protested.

“Your teacher doesn’t like it, so…” Yu Siyi looked appropriately conflicted.

Jin Ziye realized he had been “dismissed” now that his usefulness was over. After lunch, he left, and Yu Siyi headed to Zhu Feifei’s company to kill time until school let out.

In the afternoon, Jian Chun finished her lessons and returned to the office to find Niannian sitting there. The other teachers were crowding around her, giving her snacks and fruit.

“Mama!” Niannian cheered when she saw Jian Chun.

“Where did all these snacks come from?”

“The uncles and aunties gave them to me!” Niannian beamed.