Chi Wen woke from a restless sleep, his gaze falling on the soft, childish gauze curtains that surrounded him. The room was still. He wanted to cry out loud, but held back, restraining the urge just in time.
Though he was just three months old, his mind was far more advanced. Unlike other babies, he didn't cry the moment he woke up. He wriggled to free his hand from the swaddle and blinked his large, dark eyes in deep thought.
Where had that woman gone?
Absentmindedly, he stuffed his chubby hand into his mouth and began sucking it contentedly. Soon, drool dribbled from the corner of his mouth, and his tiny body froze for a moment. Casually, he pulled his now-wet hand out and wiped it on the drool cloth at his side.
Suddenly, his small face scrunched up, and his fair cheeks turned bright red. No matter how hard he tried to control it, something still leaked out.
Unable to contain himself, Chi Wen let out a loud wail.
Footsteps hurried toward him from outside the room, and soon, a figure approached his crib.
"Baby, you're awake?" Fu Yunruo cooed as she picked him up, bouncing him lightly before walking toward the door. "Let's get you changed. Oh dear, you've already gone! Mommy will fix it."
Did she have to announce everything? Did she not understand the concept of dignity? Chi Wen sighed inwardly as she fussed over him, his expression one of tired resignation.
He'd get used to this... right?
A pacifier was gently placed in his mouth. Instinctively, he began to suck. Warm water flowed into his throat, soothing it after all that howling. He drank a little more, grateful for the relief.
After he was finished, Fu Yunruo hung a brightly colored bell above his pram. It jingled softly as it moved, but he ignored it. He wasn't some infant easily distracted by toys, after all.
Lying on his back, Chi Wen felt alert. He could see Fu Yunruo nearby, so he stared at her. Of course, he told himself, he didn't want to look at her—it was just that his weak little body couldn't even turn his head yet. This wasn't his choice.
Fu Yunruo dressed him, placed him back in his pram, and wheeled him out into the courtyard.
The sky was overcast, and the air was cool with no breeze—perfect weather for leaving the baby outside while she worked. She glanced at him from time to time as she headed to the vegetable patch to gather ingredients. It would be noon soon, and she planned to stir-fry some fresh vegetables.
Bone broth was already simmering in the kitchen, more than enough for her. Once she'd finished picking the greens, she eyed the rows of mustard leaves. It was time to dry them. After washing the vegetables at the tap, she went inside to prepare her meal.
She sat down to enjoy the stir-fried vegetables and bone broth, then fed the baby. Afterward, she added salt to the leftover broth and poured it into a thermos, intending to bring it to Uncle and Aunt Mei.
Being a new mother meant her meals were always bland, but she knew the older couple preferred heavier flavors. Though the Meis were frugal farmers, rarely indulging in meat even when they had the means, Fu Yunruo often made extra soup and shared it with them.
Carrying the thermos, she pushed Chi Wen's pram and made her way to the Mei family's house, which was just a short distance away.
When she arrived, Uncle Mei and Aunt Mei were setting the table for lunch. Fu Yunruo, familiar with their routine, knew they usually ate after 12:30.
"Uncle Mei, Aunt Mei!" she called, pushing the pram inside.
"Ruo Ruo, come in, sit down! We're just about to eat," Aunt Mei greeted warmly.
"I've already eaten. I brought some bone broth. I made too much, and I don't want it to go to waste," Fu Yunruo said, smiling.
"You should save it for later, child," Aunt Mei replied.
"I've saved enough. I won't finish it all, and it's a pity to throw it out."
Without giving Aunt Mei a chance to argue, Fu Yunruo continued playfully, "Aunt Mei, please take it. It's heavy! Besides, you promised to teach me how to dry vegetables. I can't bother you if you're too polite!"
Uncle Mei chuckled and said, "Just accept the kindness."
With that, Aunt Mei fetched a basin from the kitchen, and Fu Yunruo poured the soup into it.
Carrying the now-empty thermos, Fu Yunruo excused herself. "I'd better get back. It's time to put the baby down for a nap."
"Alright, we'll see you later," Aunt Mei called as Fu Yunruo left.
Back home, Chi Wen was dozing off. Watching him, Fu Yunruo felt sleepy too. She lay beside him and quickly drifted off to sleep herself.
When she woke up around two o'clock, she still felt groggy. Chi Wen was snoring softly beside her, his little cheeks flushed and his hands balled into tiny fists. Her heart melted as she gazed at him, overcome with affection.
Fu Yunruo grabbed her phone from the nearby table and began taking pictures of him from every angle, not stopping until she had dozens. Only then did she reluctantly put her phone down.
Although she was wide awake, she didn't feel like getting up just yet. She sat by his side, scrolling through her phone. She had ditched her old SIM card when she ran away, replacing it with an anonymous one to avoid being tracked. It limited some phone functions, but she only used it for browsing the internet anyway.
Over time, she had become less obsessed with following news from the outside world, though she occasionally checked the entertainment headlines. Fang Xue's updates were predictable—more roles, more endorsements, more rumors about her relationship with a wealthy heir. Everything seemed to be going perfectly for her.
Fu Yunruo also kept tabs on the Fu family, but there was no mention of her being disowned. Likely, her father wanted to avoid public embarrassment.
As for the chaos that unfolded in the original novel, Fu Yunruo saw no trace of it in real life. No dramatic scandal, no vicious slander.
She thought back to the novel's version of the events. In that story, her stepmother and half-sister had been far from the paragons of virtue they presented themselves as. The original owner of this body, once an innocent girl, had been constantly undermined by them, while her father remained blind to the abuse.
It wasn't hard to see why the original owner became more extreme as she grew older, constantly on the defensive in a hostile household. Her actions, which led to her downfall, seemed less like villainy and more like desperation.
Though Fu Yunruo had avoided that fate by fleeing, the memories still haunted her. She wondered what her stepmother and stepsister were plotting now. Perhaps, by escaping, she had disrupted their plans and left them without a way to exploit her.
But she couldn't dwell on it forever. If they hadn't acted by now, they probably wouldn't.
Her thoughts turned to more immediate concerns. Money was running low. She had withdrawn a large sum before fleeing, but most of it was gone after a year of careful spending.
What little remained wasn't enough for both her and the baby, whose needs were only growing. Soon, she wouldn't even be able to afford formula.
She had to figure out a way to make money...
Chi Wen woke up, blinking as he stirred. He saw Fu Yunruo still sitting nearby, occasionally glancing at him while she played on her phone. His lips curled into a smile before he could stop himself.
Fu Yunruo noticed his smile and immediately put down her phone. She leaned over and rubbed his soft little belly, her voice dripping with affection. "What did my baby dream about to make him so happy?"
Chi Wen's logical mind told him he wasn't smiling on purpose, but his body betrayed him. As Fu Yunruo teased him, he chuckled involuntarily, unable to stop the laughter that bubbled out of him.
"Goo goo ga ga"
She continued playing with him, tickling him gently until she was satisfied, then took care of his needs.
Chi Wen's face turned slightly red from all the attention, though he tried to remain indifferent. It was just that his baby instincts were too strong. He couldn't help but react.
Yet, he had to admit—this woman was far too childish for his taste. How long would he have to indulge her with these silly games?