The Heartless Omega: I Only Want My Daughter - Chapter 13

As the car came to a stop at the intersection, Pei Zhiyun looked through the windshield at the staff waiting ahead, and an unexpected wave of nervousness washed over her. After years of acting, she rarely felt anxious, yet now her heart was racing and her breath came in short hitches.

She couldn’t help but glance at Wen Ying and Little Doubao. One was obediently drinking water in her mother’s arms, while the other was looking at the child with a gentle, tender gaze. It seemed she was the only one worrying.

But then again, there was no reason for the mother and daughter to be anxious; to them, this was just a vacation to relax.

Sigh. Pei Zhiyun took a deep breath to steady herself.

I hope the recording goes smoothly.

The car settled, and the staff member from the passenger seat hopped out to open the door for Wen Ying. “Teacher Wen, Teacher Pei, we’ve arrived. You can step out now.”

“Alright.”

Wen Ying unbuckled her seatbelt, handed Little Doubao to Pei Zhiyun to hold steady, and bent down to step out of the car. She then turned around, opened her arms wide, and carried Little Doubao down. Pei Zhiyun followed closely behind.

This was a small town in the south, a place of lush mountains and lucid waters. The sky was a clear, pristine blue. White walls and black tiles matched perfectly with stone bridges and small brooks. The scenery was breathtaking, and the air was incredibly fresh.

The show’s director strode toward the three of them. Before even reaching them, he excitedly extended his hand to Pei Zhiyun. “Teacher Pei, hello! I am Li Zhe, the director of Mommy and Me. I am so delighted you could join us for this program.”

Pei Zhiyun shook his hand politely. “Hello. I’m also very grateful for your invitation to our family of three.”

Little Doubao, still in Wen Ying’s arms, saw someone talking to her Mommy. She pulled the water bottle from her mouth and, without saying a word, gave a slight, shy nod. Wen Ying followed suit with a small nod of her own.

“Oh, and by the way,” Li Zhe said, unable to hide his nervous excitement—his hand trembled slightly as he retracted it. He turned and gently pulled a sophisticated, gentle-looking middle-aged woman to the front. “Teacher Pei, this is my partner, Xu Lijun. She is the producer and planner for the show. She has been hoping for your arrival since the first season, and we finally have you for the second.”

Pei Zhiyun looked at the woman and found her face familiar. After a moment of searching her memory, she said, “Teacher Xu, were you… involved in the production of the drama Phoenix Power? I believe I saw you on set.”

“Yes, exactly!” Xu Lijun responded immediately, looking at Pei Zhiyun with a motherly affection. “Back during Phoenix Power, I was in charge of art design. I designed the set for your grand wedding scene. However, I had other commitments and only visited the set once. I never expected you to remember me after all these years.”

Pei Zhiyun was genuinely surprised. “Of course I remember. I thought the design was incredibly aesthetic while we were filming. So it was you!”

Pei Zhiyun took the initiative to step forward and embrace her.

Seven years ago, Phoenix Power had been a phenomenal hit, solidifying her status as the “Queen of Television” and earning her the Best Actress award. The grand wedding scene was the centerpiece of the show; the crew had labored for over a month, and the costumes and props alone had cost an immense amount of effort. Pei Zhiyun had been involved throughout and knew the hardships involved.

On the night of the awards gala, everyone said the Best Actress award belonged to her. But before the winner was officially announced, Pei Zhiyun had sat in the audience trembling with nerves, not daring to speak a word. Only when the presenter called her name did she breathe a sigh of relief and head onto the stage.

The organizers allowed one to two minutes for acceptance speeches, but Pei Zhiyun spoke for nearly three without anyone stopping her. It was because her speech consisted of the names of every single behind-the-scenes staff member—nearly 150 names, all of which she had memorized. She spoke without a single pause.

The audience was stunned into silence. When she finished the last name, she stepped back and bowed, and the hall erupted into thunderous applause that lasted for minutes.

Among those 150 names was Xu Lijun. Pei Zhiyun remembered the name, but since they rarely met on set, she hadn’t immediately connected the name to the face until now.

Xu Lijun let out a gratified sound, stepped forward to return the hug, and patted her back. “It really has been a long time. From the moment it was announced you would play the lead in Phoenix Power, I felt you were the perfect choice. And you really did it. The day you went up to accept that award, I watched through the screen with tears streaming down my face. You really haven’t had it easy.”

Pei Zhiyun was deeply moved. “Thank you for your design, Teacher.” That wedding was more grand and magnificent than her own real wedding with Wen Ying; whenever she thought of it, she would go back and watch it again.

The two embraced for a long time before letting go. Xu Lijun looked at Pei Zhiyun, her eyes welling up again. She truly adored this young woman—Pei Zhiyun possessed a resilience and tenacity that others lacked, yet her temperament was so quiet and refined. If I had been born twenty years later, I would have pursued her at any cost, Xu Lijun thought.

After the greetings, Xu Lijun turned her attention to Wen Ying. “And this must be your partner. I hadn’t heard of her before; I only saw the news online recently.”

If it weren’t for the sudden news break, she would have continued to think Zhiyun was a single mother and that some “scumbag woman” had abandoned them. She hadn’t expected the person to actually reappear.

“Yes, this is my partner.”

Pei Zhiyun turned and walked over, placing her hand gently on the small of Wen Ying’s back. She led her forward to introduce her. “This is Wen Ying, my partner. And this is Little Doubao her formal name is Pei Lecheng, our daughter. She’s four years old.”

Before coming, Pei Zhiyun had told them both that they must greet people; even if they didn’t know someone, a polite greeting was mandatory.

Wen Ying nodded obediently. “Hello. I am Wen Ying. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Little Doubao, clutching her water bottle, said, “Hello, Uncle and Auntie. I am Pei Lecheng, I’m four years old.”

“Oh, what a good girl!” Xu Lijun couldn’t help but take the child’s small hand and give it a gentle shake. She was adorable, sixty percent Pei Zhiyun, forty percent Wen Ying.

Li Zhe stepped up and said, “Now that greetings are done, Teacher Pei and Teacher Wen, please come this way. The other guests are already waiting at the site.”

“Alright.”

The town was beautifully built. They walked along the blue stone pavement toward their destination. Every household had colorful flowers planted by their doors, and clear water flowed slowly through the drainage channels. The atmosphere was peaceful and serene.

The production team had set the starting point for the recording at an ancestral hall with a two-story wooden building. From the plaque at the entrance to every brick, beam, and tile inside, everything was exquisite. Red lanterns hung in the outer courtyard, and the intricate carvings on the pillars and the layout of the tables and chairs inside exuded the air of a prestigious family.

Compared to the Pei family estate in Wen Ying’s memory, this place was even more impressive.

The Director and Teacher Xu personally led Pei Zhiyun’s family inside. Before even entering, they could hear the lively chatter from within—adults and children alike. The tone of the adults sounded familiar.

Pei Zhiyun assisted Wen Ying over the high threshold and into the inner courtyard. The guests already there turned to look. Seeing it was Pei Zhiyun, their eyes instinctively drifted to Wen Ying. Everyone was dying of curiosity about this woman who hadn’t appeared for four years.

“Teacher Pei is here,” said Li Dai, walking toward them.

Pei Zhiyun had Wen Ying set Little Doubao down, then stepped forward to embrace Li Dai. “Teacher Li, long time no see.”

Li Dai was a veteran in the industry. She had debuted nearly a decade ago and had announced her marriage to her non-celebrity girlfriend at age thirty. A year later, she gave birth to her daughter, Li Yan. The records showed that little Li Yan was seven years old—three years older than Little Doubao.

“Long time no see, long time no see!” Li Dai said, her eyes unable to resist drifting toward Wen Ying.

The woman was indeed very beautiful—even better looking than in the promotional photos. She was slender, lovely, and had a very “clean” aura that suited Pei Zhiyun well. After following the gossip for so long, Li Dai was satisfied to finally see the real person.

Before participating in the show, Pei Zhiyun had prepared a dossier of all the guests for Wen Ying so she wouldn’t be caught off guard. It included their ages, heights, blood types, filmographies, and even their specific roles and awards. Wen Ying, with her sharp memory, recognized the woman immediately.

“Teacher Li, hello,” Wen Ying said with a nod. Pei Zhiyun had instructed her that she must address everyone as “[Surname] Teacher,” or simply “Teacher” if she didn’t know the name. This was the industry custom.

Li Dai quickly reached out her hand. “Teacher Wen, hello. You look much better in person than in the photos.”

Wen Ying bowed slightly and shook her hand. “Thank you.”

After the handshake, Li Dai’s partner, Zhang Yiwan, walked over with their daughter, Li Yan. She stood beside Li Dai and said excitedly, “Teacher Pei, hello! I’m a fan of yours.”

Pei Zhiyun shook her hand as well. “Hello, Teacher Zhang.” Since Zhang Yiwan wasn’t in the industry, this was Pei Zhiyun’s first time meeting her. After a brief handshake, she also shook hands with Wen Ying.

As the eldest present, Li Dai gestured for everyone to sit. “Let’s not just stand around. Let’s go in and sit down. You’ve had a long journey.”

“Mhm.” Pei Zhiyun took Little Doubao’s hand and went inside.

The crew had set up a dozen chairs throughout the ancestral hall. Since only two families had arrived so far, they sat in the center. Pei Zhiyun sat next to Li Dai, with Wen Ying on her right holding Little Doubao. Zhang Yiwan and Li Yan sat to Li Dai’s left. Seven-year-old Li Yan, who was a head taller than Little Doubao, sat on her own chair.

Cameras were set up directly in front of them. This was the first time the two families had met. Aside from Pei Zhiyun and Li Dai, who knew each other through work, everyone else felt a bit awkward.

This was especially true for Little Doubao and Li Yan. Both children huddled close to their respective mothers without saying a word, their eyes darting around. Occasionally their gazes met, only to quickly dart away again.

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