Shocking! A three-year-old brings his aloof mother to their door.

He Wanning's lips twitched:

"Mom...comparing a genius PhD who graduated at twenty-two to an ordinary person like me who couldn't even get a PhD...isn't that giving me a bit too much credit?"

Tongtong, whose face was being wiped by her grandmother, heard this and her little face fell. She muttered softly:

"It seems like... Tongtong is dragging us down again..."

If it weren't for her "obvious" age, her aunt wouldn't have been exposed so quickly.

Jiang Shuya washed Tongtong's little hands and face clean and dried them with a soft towel.

The fair-skinned little dumpling has regained its original delicate and beautiful appearance, except that its hair is still a bit messy.

As soon as Tongtong was put down, she saw Zhou Yuanchao pruning flowers and trees in the yard.

Her eyes lit up, and she ran over there with a clatter:

"Grandpa Chao!"

Upon hearing the sound, Zhou Yuanchao put down his gardening shears, saw Tongtong, and immediately a kind smile appeared on his face.

He bent down and naturally picked up the little dumpling:

"Young lady is back."

Tongtong skillfully hooked her arm around Zhou Yuanchao's neck and rubbed against his wrinkled but warm cheek:

"Does Grandpa Chao miss Tongtong?"

"Of course I want to," Zhou Yuanchao replied with a smile, pointing to the small tree he had just pruned.

"Grandpa Chao is giving them a beauty treatment to make them grow even prettier."

"Getting a beauty treatment?" Tongtong looked curiously at the little tree that had been pruned into a cute shape.

Then, glancing at the gardening shears in Zhou Yuanchao's hand, his big eyes darted around, and suddenly an idea popped into his head:

"Grandpa Chao, could you... cut out a little rabbit for Tongtong?"

Zhou Yuanchao was amused by her naive request and nodded:

"Okay, little miss, wait a minute, Grandpa will cut your hair right away."

He held Tongtong in his arms, picked up the gardening shears again, and began to carefully prune the small boxwood.

Tongtong nestled on his shoulder, staring intently with a look of anticipation on her little face.

---

In the courtyard, Jiang Shuya watched Zhou Yuanchao patiently accompany Tongtong, shook her head, and turned to walk back into the house.

He Wanning was sitting on the sofa with her head down.

Jiang Shuya sat down opposite her, poured herself a cup of tea, and casually asked:

"What are your plans for the future? Continue being a lawyer? Or have your dad give you a small firm to practice with?"

They clearly already knew about He Wanning's meteoric rise to fame.

Without a second thought, He Wanning said, "I'd rather be a lawyer. I can't handle things like companies."

She paused, a sly smile spreading across her face:

"Anyway, I have shares in the company. My sister works hard, and I get paid. It's great!"

I feel like I'm a winner in life.

The words had barely left his mouth—

"Snapped!"

Jiang Shuya slapped her on the buttocks, not too hard, not too soft:

"Feeling good about it? You're treating your sister like a slave!"

He Wanning pouted and rubbed the spot where she had been hit:

"Mom, this isn't some melodramatic novel."

Am I supposed to play those brainless characters? There are clearly more suitable ones in the company.

Why do you insist on seizing power when there are more capable people in charge?

They have shares and dividends, they don't have to work, they can make money while lying down, but why don't they want them?

"Isn't that crazy?"

Jiang Shuya paused, her hand holding the teacup still.

She looked her daughter up and down, circled her once, and looked at her with curiosity:

"Hey? I've discovered... you're actually pretty smart!"

He Wanning: "…………"

She rolled her eyes in annoyance: "Mom, do I look like an idiot?"

Jiang Shuya nodded seriously:

"To be honest, you really are the most 'idiotic' one in our family... well, the most 'silly' one."

He Wanning: "...I'm running away from home!"

She stood up angrily, making a move to walk out the door.

Jiang Shuya calmly took a sip of tea and slowly added:

"Go ahead and leave. Even if you never work in your life, as long as you don't start a business and squander your family's money, you won't starve. Your family can afford to support you."

He Wanning paused, her back stiffening.

A few seconds later, she turned around, her expression complex, as if she wanted to be angry but felt it was unnecessary. In the end, she only managed to utter one sentence:

"...I want to leave this place of trouble!"

After saying that, he walked out of the house.

.........

"Let's go home!"

He Wanning angrily picked up Tongtong, who was still staring longingly at the "half-finished little rabbit" in Zhou Yuanchao's hand, and turned to walk out the door.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch—!" Tongtong struggled in her arms, pointing behind her with her little finger, her baby voice rising in frustration.

"Auntie! My little bunny isn't done yet! Grandpa's still working on it! Please wait a little longer!"

He Wanning didn't stop, carrying her and striding away:

"Let's not wait any longer! Auntie will buy you an even prettier one next time! Your parents are probably home by now, let's go back!"

Tongtong pouted, reluctant to leave, but still obediently waved her chubby little hand behind her and called out in her childish voice:

"Goodbye, Grandpa!"

Zhou Yuanchao chuckled and held up the half-finished twig and leaf rabbit in his hand, responding loudly:

"Goodbye, little miss! You'll see the complete little bunny next time you come back!"

Tongtong nodded her little head vigorously, not forgetting to remind her:

"Grandpa Chao, remember to take good care of Tongtong's little bunny!"

Zhou Yuanchao freed one hand and gave her an "OK" sign.

Tongtong watched and imitated him, stretching out her chubby little hand and making a circle with her thumb and forefinger... except that the circle seemed to have no hole, becoming a solid little fist.

"Egg K!"

She was full of confidence, thinking she had given a perfect "OK" sign.

He Wanning and Zhou Yuanchao were both amused by her adorable appearance.

---

Living room of Qingzhuyuan Villa.

In one corner of the sofa, the atmosphere was... sickeningly sweet.

Mo Ye leaned back on the sofa armrest, his slender fingers picking up a crystal-clear green grape and gently offering it to He Wanqing's lips.

He Wanqing lowered her head slightly, took a grape from his hand, and when she looked up, her eyes sparkled and her cheeks were flushed.

She swallowed the grape, a little sweet juice still clinging to the corner of her lips.

Then, she stretched out her slender, fair fingers, picked up a plump winter date from the fruit plate, and offered it to Mo Ye's lips.

Mo Ye lowered his head and took a bite of her hand, his eyes filled with tenderness.

A silent, sticky, sweet atmosphere flowed between the two, as if the whole world had shrunk to just the two of them.

Just then—

"Bang!"

The sound of the door being pushed open forcefully shattered the enchanting atmosphere of the room.

He Wanning stood in the entryway, holding Tongtong, her jaw almost dropping to the ground.

She stared wide-eyed at the couple on the sofa, who looked like they had just stepped out of an idol drama, feeding each other, and felt a massive blow to her heart.

Is this... is this still her aloof, arrogant, and unapproachable older sister?!

That look in his eyes!

That smile!

What an atmosphere!

Are you deaf? I opened the door so loudly!

...............