Chapter Three: Farewell

“Mm…” The girl slowly opened her eyes. Seeing the boy beside her, she immediately planted a good morning kiss on him and grinned, “Good morning, Ziyuan!” The boy was caught off guard by the kiss, but the upward curve of his lips betrayed his true feelings: he wanted to stay with Jiujiu forever.

“Jiujiu, this was given to me by my mother, and now I’m giving it to you. It will protect you!” The boy unclasped the necklace from around his neck.

“No, you can’t! Aunt gave this to you…” The girl refused at once, but the boy didn’t give her a chance to object, fastening the necklace around her neck himself.

Light flickered in the girl’s eyes. Perhaps this was for the best—it could serve as a token for their future reunion.

[Jiujiu, this necklace was what he gave the heroine in your past life. Now it’s yours.]

[Yes, it’s a good beginning.]

The girl touched the necklace at her throat and looked gratefully at the boy.

“Thank you, Ziyuan. I’ll always wear it. Whenever I see it, I’ll think of you.”

…

Time passed swiftly, and before she knew it, the day had arrived when Jiujiu was to be taken away by her mother’s best friend. Aunt Mu was her mother’s confidante. When Jiujiu’s mother passed away, Aunt Mu was abroad on business and knew nothing of the tragedy. Upon returning to the country and learning what had happened, she immediately searched for Jiujiu, eventually finding her at the orphanage. Out of sympathy, she wanted to take Jiujiu home and raise her in comfort. Her husband had always longed for a daughter, and his health had been failing in recent years; no one knew how much time he had left, so this was a chance to fulfill his wish.

It was time to leave. The girl smiled and looked up at the sky, wondering how she should say goodbye to Mo Ziyuan.

Her thoughts were interrupted by two little birds in the tree above. They seemed to be a pair, chasing and playing with each other, singing joyously, carefree and unburdened. How wonderful it must be to be a bird—unlike humans…

The girl laughed wryly at herself. When did she become so sentimental? Her revenge was not yet taken, her goals not yet achieved. Once she had everyone on her side, she’d confront the heroine head-on—then, who would fear whom?

But now, should she let Mo Ziyuan see her off, or leave without him? Such a dilemma… No, perhaps it was better not to say goodbye. Sudden loss brings the most intense, unforgettable emotions, doesn’t it? She kept her gaze on the birds, though her eyes had lost their focus.

Jiujiu recalled the timing of Aunt Mu’s arrival in her previous life, so the day before she was to leave, she deliberately stood up for Mo Ziyuan in front of the other children, secretly stirring their jealousy. She expected they would bully him behind her back, just as they had done to her before. This would keep Ziyuan occupied, and she could slip away unnoticed. She wondered what his expression would be then—unfortunately, she would have to wait until they met again to find out.

Sure enough, on the day Jiujiu was taken away, Mo Ziyuan was cornered by a group of children whose faces were twisted with dislike.

“It’s all your fault. You stole Jiujiu’s attention.”

“Yeah, Jiujiu doesn’t play with us anymore.”

“Stay away from her, or else…”

…

The boy remained expressionless, as he always had, and didn’t resist. In the past, it was because he couldn’t be bothered; now, he hoped these wounds would draw Jiujiu’s concern. He cherished the warmth and worry in her eyes when she tended to his injuries, because in those moments, he felt like he was the only one in her world. The harder the children beat him, the brighter his smile became. But he didn’t know that the one he missed was about to leave.

In the front courtyard, the girl stared blankly at the woman before her. She was beautiful, elegantly dressed, her smile gentle and kind as she spoke softly, “Jiujiu, I’m your mother’s best friend—Mu. I just returned from abroad and missed your parents’ funeral. I’m sorry. Why don’t you come home with Aunt Mu? I’ll take good care of you, and you’ll have a big brother to play with.”

Mu Qin’s gaze couldn’t leave the girl from the moment she appeared. She looked exactly like the daughter Mu Qin had always dreamed of: large, round eyes, bright and clear, delicate features, soft hair—adorable and lovely, like a porcelain doll, so sweet that she melted your heart. Her husband’s health was poor, and he’d always wanted a daughter. Though they’d had one before, she’d died young. Now, seeing this girl, Mu Qin felt she was a gift from heaven, fulfilling both her own and her husband’s wishes.

The girl’s eyes lingered on the woman, wary and uncertain, but when the woman showed her photos of herself with Jiujiu’s mother, she finally relaxed, responding politely, “Alright, Aunt Mu.”

Her smile was warm and reserved, as if meeting for the first time, but inside she was restless. This was the Aunt Mu who loved and protected her, who had cared for her wholeheartedly after taking her in, never despising her despite her timidity and self-pity.

“Ah, good, Jiujiu,” the woman said, moved.

For some reason, the girl suddenly thought of her parents. Tears streamed down her face. “Okay.”

Mu Qin wiped her own tears, sighing at how unpredictable life could be—who would have thought her friend would pass so soon?

Turning to the director beside her, she said, “I’ll be taking Jiujiu home now. Thank you for your care during this time.” Her words were sincere.

Though Mu Qin had tempered her aura, some still leaked through, making her impossible to underestimate—after all, she was from one of the most prominent families in the capital.

The director quickly waved her hands. “It’s nothing, really. Jiujiu is a very well-behaved child.”

Mu Qin smiled and nodded.

As a member of the Mu family, she had a sharp eye and could tell at a glance that Jiujiu was a good child.

When the girl was about to step into the luxurious car, she suddenly turned and tugged at the director’s sleeve.

“Director, I didn’t see Ziyuan. Please tell him to take good care of himself. We’ll meet again someday.” As she spoke, stars seemed to sparkle in her eyes, her gaze so focused that it made you feel impossibly important, softening your heart.

“Good girl, don’t worry. I’ll tell him!” The director wiped away tears she couldn’t bear to shed. Jiujiu was the child she favored most in the entire orphanage, and she sincerely hoped Jiujiu would have a good life.

[Jiujiu, I think Mo Ziyuan will go mad.]

[That’s good—if he’s mad, he won’t forget me.]

Sitting in the car, the girl reluctantly said goodbye to the director and her friends. Even when the orphanage vanished from view, her gaze never wavered, her fingers twisting nervously at her sleeve, filled with both fear and anticipation.

The scene was the same, but her heart was different from her past life. She was truly excited; she was about to meet them again. This time, she would recruit them into her camp ahead of schedule, leaving no opportunity for Lin Yuexin to exploit. Glancing at Aunt Mu beside her, she felt a pang of guilt—after all, she intended to take her son for herself. But if she didn’t, Lin Yuexin would. Better to keep the advantage within the family, even if she knew it wasn’t entirely right. She refused to end up as a tragic supporting character, dying miserably, and instead wanted to seize the heroine’s spotlight and win everyone’s love. If she succeeded, she would cure Uncle Mu’s illness and return him to Aunt Mu healthy, so at least she could feel better about it.