Volume One, Chapter Eight: Your Parents Will Take Care of You for a Lifetime

“Sis, we made your favorite braised fish and spicy dry pot. Dinner will be ready soon—you came back at just the right time. Come on, let’s go.”
She happily pulled Yun Mojiu toward the living room.

At that moment, Yun Changhong and Du Qing emerged from the kitchen, both wearing aprons. One carried the rice cooker, the other held bowls and chopsticks. When they saw Yun Mojiu, genuine joy lit up their faces.

“Little Jiu, you’re back!”

“Why are you still standing there? Go wash your hands for dinner,” Du Qing urged with a smile.

After Yun Ruoxia and Yun Mojiu headed to the kitchen to wash up, Yun Changhong and Du Qing exchanged glances, their heads leaning close together in a conspiratorial way, like secret agents meeting in private, shrouded in mystery.

“Hey, Old Yun, did you notice? Little Jiu’s hand is wrapped in bandages.”

“That scoundrel Xie Jingling!”

“All right, all right, let’s not bring up unhappy things tonight. It’s enough that Little Jiu is home. As long as we’re here, we’ll never let her suffer again.”

“Mm, mm.”

As soon as Yun Mojiu and Yun Ruoxia came out, the two quickly separated.

“Come on, let’s eat,” Du Qing called, waving them over.

Yun Changhong pointed at the dishes with a proud grin. “Little Jiu, come see what delicious things Dad made for you.”

Yun Ruoxia pretended to pout, “Sigh, no one loves me anymore~”

“You rascal, didn’t I make your favorites too?” Yun Changhong huffed.

Yun Ruoxia stuck out her tongue and made a face at him.

The family burst into laughter.

At the dinner table, no one mentioned anything unpleasant. With Yun Ruoxia, the little ball of sunshine, around, the atmosphere remained lively, and everyone enjoyed their meal.

After dinner, Yun Changhong hurried off to wash the dishes. Du Qing took Yun Mojiu and Yun Ruoxia to the living room to watch TV. They watched a comedy show, and the guests’ antics had the three of them laughing uncontrollably.

“What’s so funny?” Yun Changhong asked as he walked in with a plate of freshly washed fruit, settling next to Du Qing.

Yun Ruoxia animatedly explained the show to him. When she finished, she pulled out several scripts from beside her.

“Mom, Dad, Sis, can you help me decide which script is best?”

Yun Ruoxia majored in acting and was now a junior in college. Since her sophomore year, she’d been taking bit parts in productions—tiny roles without any lines—but she never complained, loving the work wholeheartedly. Her dream was to become a leading actress one day.

Her family fully supported her ambition. In Yun Changhong and Du Qing’s eyes, what their child loved was what mattered most.

The three of them took the scripts and started reading through them one by one. Meanwhile, Yun Mojiu quietly did some calculations in her mind.

In the end, she pointed to one of the historical dramas.

“Sis, you should audition for the fifth female lead in this one.”

“This one?” Yun Ruoxia took the script and looked it over carefully. “But the director’s only done one show before, and it wasn’t that great. The directors of the other two are both famous—even if I’m only the eighth or ninth female lead, it seems better.”

She hesitated.

Yun Mojiu smiled. “Trust me. After this show, your popularity will get a real boost.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

She’d already calculated the other two scripts. One would flop without a trace. In the other, the male lead would end up in a scandal, and the whole show would be shelved. Even playing the main female lead in those would be a waste of time.

But this historical drama was different. Though the director was a newcomer and the production modest, the plot was captivating, the characters vivid and interesting, and once it aired, it would be a hit. Aside from the male and female leads, the fifth female role would be the audience favorite.

Given Xiaoxia’s current status, the lead role was out of reach, but if she worked hard and used the lucky charm Yun Mojiu would give her, the fifth lead was almost guaranteed.

“All right, I’ll listen to you, Sis—I’ll audition for the fifth female lead!” Yun Ruoxia happily raised the script high, excitement written all over her face.

Her unconditional trust made Yun Mojiu purse her lips slightly.

The family watched TV together for a while before heading to their rooms.

Back in her familiar bedroom, Yun Mojiu lay on her soft bed, staring blankly at the white ceiling, lost in thought.

No matter how she tried, she couldn’t figure out why she’d returned after her soul had wandered another world.

Unable to understand, she decided not to dwell on it. She got up and went to the bathroom.

After her shower, just as she finished blow-drying her hair—

Knock, knock, knock.

There was a gentle rapping at the door.

She opened it to find Du Qing standing there with a cup of hot milk and a warm smile.

“Mom, you’re still up?”

“Mm.” Du Qing smiled, handing her the milk. “Drink this first, you’ll sleep more soundly tonight.”

Just as she had countless times as a child, Yun Mojiu downed the milk in one gulp.

Du Qing took back the cup, hesitating for a moment as if wanting to say something, then settled for, “Rest well, dear.”

She was about to leave when Yun Mojiu tugged at her sleeve, her tone soft and a little pleading.

“Mom, can I sleep with you tonight?”

She could see her parents were worried about her, that there was much they wanted to say but held back for fear of stirring painful memories, pretending everything was fine just to spare her.

She needed to move on—and her parents did, too.

She didn’t want them brooding over her, always anxious on her behalf.

So, some things were better said openly.

“All right,” Du Qing said, patting her hand with a smile. “Honestly, I’ve long wanted to stop sleeping with your father. His snoring makes me want to stuff his nostrils with cotton wads.”

Yun Mojiu laughed. “Dad would throw a fit if he heard that.”

Mother and daughter laughed together.

They climbed into bed, lying side by side. Yun Mojiu nestled close to Du Qing, just as she had when she was little. Neither spoke for a while.

Eventually, Yun Mojiu broke the silence.

“Mom, don’t worry. I divorced Xie Jingling because I stopped loving him. Nothing he does can hurt or sadden me anymore. To me, he’s just a familiar stranger now. From now on, I’ll take good care of myself and live well—so you and Dad have nothing to worry about.”

“Really?” Du Qing was surprised to hear Yun Mojiu say she no longer loved Xie Jingling. She’d assumed it was his infidelity that had left her heartbroken and forced her into divorce.

“It’s true,” Yun Mojiu nodded with a smile.

“Good. What’s past is past. People who aren’t worth it—we’ll keep as far away from them as possible, and just live our own lives,” Du Qing said, gently patting her daughter’s back. “My precious girl is so outstanding. You’ll meet someone better, and even if you don’t, it doesn’t matter—your dad and I will take care of you forever, and when we’re old, you’ll still have your sister.”

Yun Mojiu chuckled. “I doubt it’ll come to that.”

Du Qing laughed too. “I’m just saying.”

Seeing that Yun Mojiu wasn’t forcing a smile, Du Qing finally felt the weight in her heart lift.

Early the next morning—

“Sis, I’m off to the audition!” Yun Ruoxia, bag in hand, rushed out the door. Passing through the yard, she waved at Yun Mojiu.

“Wait a moment.”

Yun Mojiu came over and handed her a carefully prepared talisman.

“What’s this?” Yun Ruoxia asked, puzzled by the triangular charm in her hand.

Yun Mojiu smiled. “It’s for good luck. Keep it with you. I’ll be here waiting for your good news.”

“Thank you, Sis!” Yun Ruoxia beamed, tucking the charm into her pocket.

After seeing her off, Yun Mojiu was about to head back inside when her gaze caught the old lady across the street, watering her flowers.

Looking at the woman’s face, Yun Mojiu’s brows knit together.