Volume One, Chapter 10: How Could Xixi Compare to Tangtang!

How could a child possibly lie?
Who is it?
Never listening to Xixi, repeatedly accusing her of lying.
Scolding Xixi for being dishonest, blaming her for lying habitually at such a young age, calling her a bad child.
Such blatant double standards!
Her Xixi’s only lie was waiting for her father who broke his promise—a lie that cost her her life.
Yet in his eyes, Xixi was utterly despicable.
Su Tingwan’s eyes reddened with fury as she glared fiercely at Fu Xicheng, her voice cold and accusing, “Fu Xicheng, Cheng Ruotang is a child—does that mean my Xixi isn’t?”
“How can Xixi be compared to Tang Tang!”
Fu Xicheng’s offhand words chilled Su Tingwan to the bone.
That was his true feeling.
In his heart, the daughter born to the woman he loved was flawless in every way—just like Cheng Muyan.
But her Xixi, like her mother, was utterly unworthy.
Su Tingwan’s heart ached as if it were being torn apart; overwhelmed by pain, she laughed bitterly, though the smile never reached her eyes.
She looked at Fu Xicheng intently, enunciating each word, “Indeed, they cannot be compared, because Cheng Ruotang doesn’t deserve it!”
A child so accustomed to lying and fabricating stories—how could she be compared to her obedient, adorable Xixi?
She truly ached for her daughter.
Her precious baby loved her father so deeply.
Yet in her father’s heart, there was only Cheng Ruotang, born of Cheng Muyan, and no place for her at all.
As a mother, Su Tingwan’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice trembling with grief, “Fu Xicheng, with a father like you, my Xixi is now…”
The moment Su Tingwan mentioned Xixi’s death, Cheng Muyan suddenly gripped Fu Xicheng’s arm tightly.
She looked at her swollen, reddened right hand in panic, crying out, “Xicheng, is my hand ruined? Can I never design again?”
Fu Xicheng’s attention shifted immediately to Cheng Muyan; he didn’t hear the rest of Su Tingwan’s words.
Looking at her hand, he soothed her gently, “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll take you to the hospital now. Don’t worry.”
Fu Xicheng lifted Cheng Muyan in his arms and headed out.
Cheng Ruotang obediently clung to Fu Xicheng’s clothes, following along.
Passing by Su Tingwan, Fu Xicheng’s voice was icy cold, “You’d better pray that Muyan’s hand is okay.”

Fu Xicheng carried Cheng Muyan away.
Su Tingwan was undeterred.
Together with six others, she continued to compete in the design contest on site.
Performing normally.
She secured the final spot in the jewelry competition.
...
Leaving Tianyu Tower, Su Tingwan was heading toward the subway entrance when a motorcycle roared straight at her.
She saw it but didn’t dodge, standing still as the rider skillfully skidded the bike sideways, coming to a perfect stop right in front of her.
The man sitting atop the motorcycle planted his long, slender legs firmly on the ground, removed his helmet with one hand, revealing an excessively handsome face.
His peach blossom eyes, warm and affectionate, looked at Su Tingwan as he raised a brow and flirted, “Hey beauty, get on. I’ll take you for a ride.”
It was Ji Jingzhi.
Her only friend from the orphanage.
When she was eight, she had been sold by the director to a depraved pedophile.
When she was bullied, Ji Jingzhi rushed in recklessly, knocked out the monster, and helped her escape the orphanage.
To protect her, he hid her while drawing away their pursuers himself.
When she later returned with Grandma Fu to the orphanage, she found him beaten badly, barely breathing.
Even then, he never revealed where he had hidden her.
“Ji Jingzhi, do you think you’re especially handsome right now?”
Su Tingwan rolled her eyes.
“Su Tingwan, mind your words—what do you mean ‘think’? I am painfully handsome by nature!”
Ji Jingzhi flicked his bangs with flair.
Su Tingwan said nothing and beckoned him over.
He lowered his head.
Su Tingwan reached out and gently pressed the back of his head, turning it clockwise toward the motorcycle’s front mirror, solemnly declaring, “Indeed, painfully handsome!”
“Damn!”
Ji Jingzhi caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, his hair a messy tangle, and couldn’t help but curse.
His handsomeness lasted barely three seconds.
He hurriedly put his helmet back on.
It was too damaging to his image.
Su Tingwan couldn’t help but smile faintly.
“Get on.”
Ji Jingzhi grumbled but leaned over to grab her helmet.
Suddenly, he froze.
He noticed beneath Su Tingwan’s pink adult helmet was a smaller pink child’s helmet.
His nose prickled and his eyes reddened.
It was a birthday gift he had prepared for Xixi.
This training meant he had to miss Xixi’s birthday.
Unable to take leave, he had someone custom-make this helmet in advance, planning to take Xixi for a ride after her surgery once she recovered.
But he never imagined there would be no chance.
“Xixi would’ve been so happy to see this gift.”
Su Tingwan gently patted Ji Jingzhi’s shoulder, offering comfort.
Xixi’s death had shattered her.
Yet she couldn’t afford to drown in sorrow forever.
Her Xixi wouldn’t want her mother to be this way.
She remembered how, on Xixi’s second birthday, like a little adult, she had wished for her mother’s happiness.
Ji Jingzhi quickly composed himself and handed Su Tingwan her helmet.
As she reached to put it on, Ji Jingzhi suddenly spat out, “Scumbags.”
Su Tingwan froze.
She instinctively looked up, following Ji Jingzhi’s gaze.
There, she saw Fu Xicheng’s car.
Parked right outside the hospital opposite Tianyu Tower.
Inside, Fu Xicheng was leaning in to kiss Cheng Muyan.