Volume One, Chapter 57: Substitution

After finishing the interview with Andrew, Jiang Wan returned home, the time already edging towards evening.

She had no time to eat, her mind wholly absorbed by her search for design inspiration. She browsed the internet for flagship store designs from major jewelry brands, compiling and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each building. It wasn’t until the latter half of the night that she finally went to bed.

The next day was Sunday.

Upon waking, Jiang Wan checked the time; the first thing to appear on her phone screen was a calendar reminder.

[Mom’s Birthday]

Every year, without fail, the three of them would celebrate together, no matter how busy they were. Even after Ji Jiali remarried, Jiang Wan would, no matter how frustrated she felt, follow her father’s wishes and send her mother a birthday greeting.

Years of companionship, from childhood to adulthood. Jiang Wan knew well that her mother did love her. She simply loved herself more than she loved her daughter. As she’d always instilled in Jiang Wan: A girl must never wrong herself, no matter her age.

Only last year was different.

The first year after her father passed away.

The relationship between mother and daughter dropped to freezing point; Jiang Wan deleted every contact she had for Ji Jiali.

But on her mother’s birthday that night, Jiang Wan dreamt of her father.

She thought he would blame her, but he did not. He spent the entire night recounting to her the hardships of her mother’s pregnancy.

“Your mother was only twenty when she married me. When she was pregnant with you, she was still just a young girl herself.

“I was busy with work and couldn’t be with her at all times, so she worried constantly. She heard that drinking milk would give her baby fair skin, so she forced herself to drink it every day, despite her disgust. She would vomit, then drink again, persistently.

“She became anxious even about meals, afraid that eating anything too strong would harm you. She loved ice cream so much, but even in the height of summer, she only drank warm water.

“She heard that a child’s intelligence was inherited from the mother. Though your mother hated studying, she carried a book everywhere, flipping through a few pages whenever she could.

“Once, during a prenatal check-up, the doctor said you had developmental issues, possibly a physical defect.

“Your mother was terrified. The follow-up at the big hospital was scheduled three days later, but she insisted I take her to Jing’an Temple. Such a tall mountain… more than nine hundred steps. With her swollen belly, she knelt every three steps, bowing over three hundred times.

“When we reached the summit, even my legs were shaking, but she didn’t rest. She rushed straight to the shrine, knelt and prayed, staying awake for two days and nights, all so that the Buddha would bless you with health.”

…

Her father spoke in painstaking detail, every word striking the softest part of Jiang Wan’s heart.

“If you must blame someone, blame Dad. I broke my promise first—I couldn’t give your mother a lifetime of riches.

“Mom will always be Mom.

“Even if she’s not with us, that fact won’t change.

“From now on, Dad can no longer wish her a happy birthday, so will you do it in my place?”

“Promise Dad—at least on that day every year, go see her, spend time with her.”

That dream was so vivid, it felt like her father had truly returned, sitting by her pillow to comfort her all night long. When she woke, her pillow was soaked.

It was that day she set the calendar reminder, to fulfill her promise to her father.

After revisiting those memories, Jiang Wan pulled herself back to the present, crossed off the phone’s reminder, and switched to her messaging app.

She opened her conversation with Ji Jiali and sent a message.

[Do you have plans tonight? Let me take you out to dinner.]

She remembered Ji Jiali had previously mentioned that Lin Hongguang was on a business trip abroad these days, which was why he’d celebrated her lunar birthday early.

She should be free today.

But Ji Jiali replied: [What’s wrong?]

Jiang Wan frowned at the three words glowing on the screen, puzzled.

By rights, her mother should have responded with excitement, suggesting several favorite restaurants, and reminding her not to forget a gift this time.

Ji Jiali’s unusual reaction prompted Jiang Wan to send another message: [Not celebrating your birthday?]

[Typing…] appeared for a long while.

Finally, Ji Jiali replied: [No, I’ve caught a cold. I want to rest at home.]

Jiang Wan had already typed out several words. Seeing her mother’s reply, she deleted them all and said nothing more.

But as she got out of bed, she pondered the matter.

After careful consideration, Jiang Wan decided she would still visit the Lin family.

It was her mother’s birthday, and she was unwell. She could pay a simple visit, deliver her gift, and leave.

Having made up her mind, Jiang Wan bought a fruit basket near her apartment and took a taxi to the Lin family villa.

As before, she could only get out at the estate gate and walk to the Lin house.

The scenery along the way made her uncomfortable.

Jiang Wan forced herself not to reminisce, keeping her gaze fixed on the path beneath her feet.

When she arrived at the Lin house, the iron gates swung open.

With the doors wide, Jiang Wan walked straight through the front yard and up to the villa.

Ascending the steps and reaching the living room door, she was met by Lin Zhi, dressed in loose homewear, descending the spiral staircase.

“Jiang Wan?”

The two locked eyes across the distance and stopped in unison.

“…,” Jiang Wan froze.

She hadn’t expected Lin Zhi to be home as well.

Under Lin Zhi’s distant gaze, Jiang Wan slowly looked away.

“My mother said she’s caught a cold. I came to check on her.”

Lin Zhi raised her brows at this.

“My father’s not home. Auntie’s upstairs in the bedroom. Go ahead.”

Her tone was calm, nothing like the hostility she’d shown before. The corners of her lips curled with a hint of a smile, her whole demeanor radiating an indescribable pride.

Even just catching her in her peripheral vision, Jiang Wan could clearly sense it.

She already knew about the pregnancy.

Jiang Wan naturally understood why Lin Zhi wore the air of a victor.

Her feelings toward Lin Zhi shifted in that instant. The hatred she once felt for Lin Zhi was now redirected toward Lu Wenzhou.

He was the true culprit behind everything.

“Mm.”

Jiang Wan said little, set down the fruit basket, and proceeded upstairs.

As she drew closer, Jiang Wan noticed the short cabinet by the stairs was piled with several boxes of premium bird’s nest and other top-grade nourishing foods.

None of these had been here the last time she visited.

Jiang Wan glanced at them, then looked away, but as she passed Lin Zhi, Lin Zhi couldn’t help but boast, “All gifts from Wenzhou.”

Lin Zhi’s face was full of triumph, her fox-like eyes slanting over.

“Is that so?”

Jiang Wan smiled, climbing the stairs without pause. “Congratulations.”

A perfunctory phrase left behind.

Their figures brushed past each other.

Jiang Wan’s change in demeanor, her calmness, made Lin Zhi frown slightly.

Her smile stiffened, and she turned, confused, to look at Jiang Wan—who gave her only a cold, indifferent back, quickly vanishing up the stairs.

Jiang Wan reached the second floor, ready to make it quick.

She knocked on the master bedroom door, and Ji Jiali’s muffled voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

Jiang Wan pressed the handle at the sound.

As she pushed open the door, she saw Ji Jiali, propped up in luxury on the European-style bed, holding a bowl of medicine. Suddenly, she sputtered it all out.

“Pfft—”