Ji Nian was thrown back into the room where she had first arrived.
She didn't catch a glimpse of Zhang Yulan on her way in.
The room was pitch dark, with only a narrow window allowing a sliver of light to filter through. Apart from a small bed, there were no other pieces of furniture.
Originally, the protagonist had been the master's biological daughter, and life hadn't been so harsh when she was born.
However, as time went on, people noticed that she had been forgotten by the master. Taking advantage of her young age and naivety, they bullied her. Led by the nanny Zhang Yulan, they seized the most luxurious room in the small building and forced the protagonist to move into the place that had once been used to store firewood.
This was where she now lived.
【How did the disfigurement happen?】
Ji Nian crouched in the corner, wincing as she inspected her injuries.
Earlier, she had only been concerned about her hunger, but now that her immediate problem was solved, she realized how much her entire body ached. Lifting her sleeves, she saw a variety of scars all over her arms.
The system explained at a leisurely pace: 【One of the biggest reasons the protagonist was despised in the future was her frightening face.】
【When the protagonist was five years old, Zhang Yulan's son gambled and was expelled from the manor, eventually sent to prison. Zhang Yulan harbored resentment but didn't dare to cause trouble herself, so she took it out on the protagonist.】
【She deliberately poured boiling hot water onto the protagonist's face.】
【Although the protagonist managed to dodge quickly, half of her face was still disfigured. Zhang Yulan claimed that the protagonist had been naughty and had tried to touch the hot water kettle, resulting in the burn.】
As a result, the matter was swept under the rug. The protagonist not only earned a reputation for being mischievous but also lived her life under the shadow of inferiority due to her disfigured and grotesque face. As she grew older, she was subjected to endless ridicule.
After all, a child who is not cared for, even if her father is still alive, might as well not have one. No one would stand up for her.
Ji Nian had finished inspecting all her injuries and let out a sigh.
【Poor child...】
She had originally tried to convince herself that her father didn't love anyone. But when the female lead arrived, she was forced to accept the truth: her father simply didn't love her.
All the insults she had endured during her childhood, calling her a 'bastard,' were now confirmed, turning into sharp swords that stabbed at her heart.
Anyone would go crazy under such circumstances.
【Since I've taken over this body, where did the protagonist's soul go?】
Ji Nian quickly put her clothes back on and couldn't help but ask.
The system explained: 【Due to a bug, the protagonist had a premonition of her future and realized she was merely a cannon fodder character in a book, which almost drove her to the brink of collapse. To maintain the stability of this world, we reached an agreement with her and sent her away.】
【She has been reincarnated, with no memories of this life, and will be born into a happy and prosperous family.】
Ji Nian nodded.
Alright, now the burden of this misfortune has fallen on her.
Wincing as she moved her painfully stiff body, Ji Nian's eyes darted around.
"Sorry, but I'm not the protagonist."
She couldn't bear it.
Knowing what was about to happen, Ji Nian wasn't panicked at all. Instead, she even encouraged the system to project an image of her current appearance.
【Wow, what an absolutely adorable little beggar】
Her naturally curly hair was unkempt, growing wildly without anyone to take care of it, resembling a clump of seaweed.
Her clothes were clearly a hand-me-down from some boy, washed so many times they had faded.
She took a step forward, pushing her hair aside to look at her face.
【Wow, I've never seen eyes this color before】
From a distance, the color wasn't very noticeable, but at a social distance, one could clearly see the emerald-green eyes, like a deep pool.
Especially since the child was so thin, her watery eyes seemed even more prominent.
The system, seeing her look so intently: 【Pretty, huh?】
Ji Nian nodded generously: 【Yeah, like green poop from eating too much spinach】
Quite unique, huh?
The system: 【………】
Her face was smudged with dirt, so it was hard to see clearly, but the underlying complexion looked good.
Unfortunately, Ji Tingzhou had been backlit earlier, so she hadn't gotten a good look at his appearance. Otherwise, she could have imagined what a clean and fair version of herself might look like now.
As she was regretfully thinking this, a furious wailing suddenly erupted from outside the door.
"My son!!!!"
It was Zhang Yulan's voice.
Ji Nian knew that she had probably just found out about her son being fired.
The whip marks on her back throbbed with pain, but Ji Nian's eyes grew brighter and more excited.
Like a wolf ready to pounce.
If Ji Tingzhou were here, he wouldn't be able to say that she didn't look like his own child.
Zhang Yulan was outside, going crazy, when she suddenly thought of something. Her eyes filled with venom as she stormed toward Ji Nian's room, kicking the door open.
But she didn't see the little brat who was always cowering under the bed, her face full of fear.
"Where is she!!?"
Her tear-streaked, hate-filled face faltered for a moment.
Didn't they say they had caught the girl and sent her back?
Ji Nian, who had been hiding by the door, suddenly charged out and bit down hard on Zhang Yulan's leg.
"Ah!!!!"
Zhang Yulan let out a painful scream as she was caught off guard. Before she could shake Ji Nian off, the girl jumped down and darted out.
Zhang Yulan was furious: "You little bitch! I'm going to kill you!!!"
Enraged, Zhang Yulan grabbed a meat cleaver she used for chopping bones and stormed after Ji Nian.
Having abused and controlled Ji Nian for years, she felt she held the girl's life in her hands.
Ji Nian's sudden act of defiance infuriated her. Adding to her anger was the recent news that her son had been caught gambling and reported to the police.
Zhang Yulan had originally worked as a servant in the main building where the master lived. If she hadn't been assigned to take care of Ji Nian, she would have been on good terms with the managers and might have found a way to help her son.
But now...
"It's all because of you! It's all because of you, you little bastard!!!"
Zhang Yulan's reason was gone. She even thought that even if she really killed the little bastard, she could blame it on Ji Nian playing with the knife and accidentally dying.
Ji Nian ran like crazy, purposefully leading the furiously chasing Zhang Yulan back to the place where she had met Ji Tingzhou earlier.
...
At this moment, Ji Tingzhou had already obtained all the information about Zhang Yulan.
For five years, as Ji Nian's father, Ji Tingzhou had turned a blind eye to her, showing no shame or remorse.
Some of Zhang Yulan's actions, which she thought were hidden, were easily uncovered by Wei Yang with a little investigation.
Looking at the thin sheet of paper, Ji Tingzhou's expression didn't change in the slightest.
"Interesting..."
Someone who could embezzle the maintenance fees of a young mistress naturally wouldn't treat her well. And a five-year-old child who had been neglected and ignored would not only be able to call someone "big brother" with clarity but also know to ask the owner before eating.
At first, he thought there was some kind-hearted person secretly "teaching" her.
It turned out to be the child's own "talent."
The freshly bathed man changed into a gray linen top, lazily lying in a massage chair designed for sleep. His emerald-green eyes, similar to Ji Nian's but with a deeper hue, exuded a mysterious aura. A hint of curiosity flickered in his gaze.
So.
Was she a wolf cub, or a naive sweetie?
His gaze suddenly fell on the fingers that Ji Nian had noticed earlier.
Those scars were from when Ji Wanting, the eldest daughter of the Ji family, had ordered someone to tie him up with a dog chain and cut him with a knife for fun.
Each cut required the eleven-year-old Ji Tingzhou to kneel and say, "Thank you, Miss."
These scars had repeatedly reminded Ji Tingzhou of the crimes of the Ji family and how disgusting everything related to this family was, including himself.
Thinking of Ji Nian's silly look as she stared at the snacks and swallowed her saliva, Ji Tingzhou's eyes turned cold.
If she was a naive sweetie, he would spare her life.
But if she was a wolf cub with the Ji family's filthy genes...
His eyes, like a frozen emerald pool, radiated a chilling light.
"Master."
Wei Yang, who had learned that the child from earlier was the baby girl he had brought back years ago, quietly approached.
It wasn't that he was considerate.
Ji Tingzhou's sleep was notoriously poor, and his nerves were extremely sensitive. Even the slightest noise could set him off.
"Speak."
Ji Tingzhou's gaze remained on the information in his hand, and he didn't even lift his head.
"A servant was caught gambling. The police have been notified, but he managed to escape while the guards weren't paying attention. He stole the gold pendant from Da Dan's collar and was caught."
Da Dan was Ji Tingzhou's dog.
As the name suggested, it was named after its large "eggs."
Of course, that wasn't the point. The point was that it was a coincidence.
The thief who stole Da Dan's gold pendant was none other than Zhang Yulan's son, the one responsible for taking care of Ji Nian.
Wei Yang wasn't sure whether to bring up the matter.
But Ji Tingzhou found out anyway.
And coincidentally, he ran into a certain little rascal being chased wildly.
