Chapter Twelve: The Child Is Not Mine, But the Husband Is Mine

“Oh my dear son! Let Mommy have a look! That little nose and those tiny eyes—they’re just like your father’s! Come on, call out ‘Mommy, Mommy!’” Wen Yan pressed her face close, teasing Liu Yanyan.

Liu Yanyan nearly fainted with anger, her face turning pale. “Wen Yan! What are you crazy about? This is my son! You can’t have children yourself, so why are you trying to find validation through my son?” Furious, she wanted to snatch the baby away, but her body was still weak from childbirth, so she sat down, holding her forehead to catch her breath.

Wen Yan held the child, raised an eyebrow, and smiled as she said, “Oh? You’re really something. Isn’t he Li Jingyan’s son? Isn’t he Li’s grandson?”

“I am Li Jingyan’s wife, the lawful daughter-in-law of the Li family. According to the law, Li Jingyan’s son is my son. What’s the problem?” Liu Yanyan retorted.

“The darling was born to me. Jingyan will divorce you at breakfast, you old hag.” Liu Yanyan, enraged, grabbed the edge of the sofa and struggled to stand.

“Don’t be mad, sister. Even if the child isn’t mine, the husband is. I have no intention of helping him raise the child, but I will take good care of our child. Don’t worry.” Wen Yan put on the guise of a devoted wife, but her words sent Liu Yanyan’s anger soaring.

“You filthy wretch, what are you saying? Believe me, I’ll kick you out and you’ll never see Brother Jingyan again!”

“Oh, don’t get angry, don’t get angry… Jingyan sent me here to bond with the child after all. I’m the main wife; you’re the concubine. If you don’t like the truth, I won’t say it.” Wen Yan’s calm tone only made Liu Yanyan curse her even more fiercely.

But Wen Yan, still playing the devoted wife, bent down to the child and said softly, “Good boy, Mommy’s going to change your diaper now~”

Liu Yanyan trembled with rage. She was too weak to fight her, and scolding her was pointless as Wen Yan seemed deaf to words. She could only muster all her strength to snatch the child into her arms, not daring to let Wen Yan come any closer.

The child was her future bargaining chip to become a rich woman; she wouldn’t allow anyone to take him from her.

After a while, Liu Yanyan suppressed her anger and called out loudly, “The baby must be hungry. Go boil some water to prepare the formula—45 degrees, only 30ml is needed.”

No one responded. Thinking Wen Yan had heard her, Liu Yanyan didn’t press further and waited quietly in the bedroom.

After waiting for dozens of minutes with no sign of anyone and calling out several times without reply, she clasped the crying baby—nearly gasping for air from hunger—and painfully walked to the kitchen doorway.

What she saw stunned her: Wen Yan was wearing headphones, eyes closed, waving two kitchen knives wildly in both hands, completely ignoring the whistling kettle beside her. She was dancing like mad, spinning around while brandishing the knives.

“Wen Yan! The water’s boiling! Are you deaf?!” Liu Yanyan held the baby back, afraid to approach the knife-wielding lunatic and shouted from the doorway.

Wen Yan ignored her completely, even turning sharply, nearly swinging a knife at Liu Yanyan’s face.

The system was startled too: “Host, don’t mess around! It’s no big deal if she dies, but she’s still holding the baby!!”

“Don’t worry, I have control.” Eyes still closed, Wen Yan continued her dance.

Liu Yanyan stepped back in fright, tears welling up as she was helpless. The baby was starving, and the hormonal turmoil after childbirth made her emotions volatile. Tears streamed down instantly.

She gave up on boiling water and nursed the baby herself, but her milk supply was too little. The child cried again shortly after feeding. She hadn’t rested all morning, her back and waist aching.

The system’s voice sounded: “Revenge on Liu Yanyan rewarded—task progress increased by 3%.”

“Host, you’re something. You endure the pain of giving birth to your child yourself. Kudos to you!”

Wen Yan removed her headphones and smiled faintly at the screen: “This is just the beginning. Watch closely.”

Then she began rummaging through the fridge for ingredients.

***

By afternoon, Wen Yan still hadn’t moved to prepare food. Liu Yanyan was so hungry she felt like her chest was stuck to her back. When she came out, she saw Wen Yan comfortably curled up on the sofa watching TV.

“Why haven’t you cooked yet?” Liu Yanyan asked angrily.

Wen Yan looked surprised. “Huh? You still need to eat?”

“What do you mean? How do you think I get milk? Do you even hear what you’re saying?”

“Oh, sorry.” Wen Yan feigned realization and turned back to the TV.

“Then why don’t you get up and cook? It’s afternoon already, and I’m running out of milk!” Liu Yanyan’s voice cracked; she was truly at her limit.

“Oh, I’m not hungry now. I’ll do it later.” Wen Yan smiled sweetly.

Liu Yanyan wanted to grab her by the hair and give her a good beating, but she was too weak. Making a scene could wake the baby, so she swallowed her anger and asked, “Then what should I eat?”

“Order takeout then. Just don’t starve.” Wen Yan said, resuming her TV watching, ignoring the nearly crying Liu Yanyan beside her.

“Wen Yan! You’re supposed to take care of me!”

“Yes, I am,” Wen Yan nodded sincerely. “But I’m not hungry now. When I get hungry, I’ll cook. If you’re starving, order takeout first.”

Liu Yanyan completely broke down, rushing back to her room and crying to Li Jingyan on the phone: “Brother Jingyan! Wen Yan is deliberately starving me and the baby! She does nothing, dares nothing, and even wants to snatch our child!” She sobbed uncontrollably.

Li Jingyan was too busy to even sigh. Hearing Liu Yanyan’s desperate cries, he had no choice but to make a video call to check the situation.

The video call immediately rang on Wen Yan’s phone.

When the screen lit up, Wen Yan dashed into the kitchen, apron tied, holding a kitchen knife, pretending to be busy for a long time. She answered the call while continuing to chop meat.

“Jingyan?” Her voice was gentle. “I’m making chicken soup for Yanyan. She just gave birth and is very weak. She needs proper nourishment to produce milk. What’s up? Any instructions?”

Li Jingyan looked around silently.

“Will you come home for dinner? If so, I’ll make extra.” She maintained the image of a devoted wife.

Li Jingyan glanced at the bustling Wen Yan and the bubbling pot, then swallowed his reprimand, replying vaguely with “Mm,” before hanging up, thinking Liu Yanyan was just being unreasonable.

Soon, the takeout Liu Yanyan ordered arrived.

Wen Yan signed for it and immediately took photos to send to the Li family group chat:

@RoseScent (Wang Xiulian) @LiFamilyPride (Li Jingyan): “Mom, Jingyan, did either of you order takeout for Yanyan? Takeout isn’t clean, I’m worried she’s starving, so I’m making chicken soup for her. Don’t order takeout anymore.”

She also sent several pictures of chopped chicken.

The elder sister-in-law (Flying Bird) quickly replied: “Crazy! Who eats takeout while nursing? Jingyan, really, no matter how much you spoil her, this is too much! It’s not good for the baby.”

Li Jingyan (LiFamilyPride) responded: “Not me. Mom, was it you?”

Wang Xiulian (RoseScent) replied: “How would I use those things? I don’t even understand how to take photos.”

Wen Yan replied: “It’s okay, I didn’t let Yanyan eat it. Maybe she ordered it herself. I’ll talk to her.”

RoseScent (Wang Xiulian) responded immediately: “??? Who ordered it? She just gave birth and can’t be eating that trash. You’re right! She should drink chicken soup! Take good care of my grandson!”

Li Jingyan also replied: “Not me. Maybe Yanyan was craving it. I’ll talk to her tonight.”

Liu Yanyan read the group messages in her room, furious enough to almost crush her phone but dared not admit she had ordered the takeout herself.

She wanted to curse Wen Yan loudly but feared waking the baby, so she swallowed her frustration.

The takeout ultimately went to Wen Yan’s stomach. After burping, Wen Yan made a DIY bowl of Kang Shi Fu chicken soup and brought it to Liu Yanyan.

Though trembling with anger, Liu Yanyan was starving and controlled herself to drink the soup first.

Even after finishing, she was still not full. She ignored the baby and loudly called Wen Yan, waking the child, whose crying only made her more distressed.

Wen Yan, however, was wearing headphones, isolated from the world.

At dusk, Li Jingyan arrived at the community gate. The system woke Wen Yan, who hurried to pretend to cook, boiling instant noodles and seasoning packets. Upon opening the door, the aroma of chicken soup greeted him.

Wen Yan emerged from the kitchen holding a bowl, smiling gently: “Just in time. The soup is ready. I’m bringing it to Yanyan.”

Before she finished speaking, the master bedroom erupted with Liu Yanyan’s hysterical screams: “Wen Yan! You vile woman! Where have you been? I’ve been calling you forever! You slow-footed wretch, no wonder you can’t have children! You’re just jealous, so you’re purposely neglecting me! You deserve to die!”

Li Jingyan’s brows knitted tightly. He had heard Liu Yanyan curse like this before.

He strode into the room to find Liu Yanyan disheveled, eyes red, looking like a madwoman.

“What are you making a scene about now?” Li Jingyan’s voice was icy cold.

Wen Yan quickly fanned the flames: “Jingyan, don’t be angry. Yanyan just gave birth; her hormones are all over the place. It’s normal for her to be in a bad mood. I’m fine.” She sneered provocatively at Liu Yanyan.

“Brother Jingyan! She’s pretending to be dumb! She’s deliberately harming me!” Liu Yanyan lunged forward, grabbing his arm, heedless of the baby’s hoarse crying.

Li Jingyan immediately picked up the child to soothe him, then harshly questioned, “Harming you? Look at yourself! If you can’t take care of him, let Wen Yan help. What do you think you’re doing?”

“Believe me, she wants to take my child, Brother Jingyan! She’s torturing me on purpose!” Liu Yanyan sobbed incoherently, looking nothing like her former self, more like a madwoman.

Wen Yan followed behind, carrying the chicken soup, her tone both concerned and aggrieved: “Yanyan, maybe you’re just too exhausted after childbirth… Drink some soup to replenish yourself…”

“Get lost! Who wants your poison soup?!” Liu Yanyan suddenly slammed the bowl over, spilling soup all over Wen Yan.

Li Jingyan lost his temper completely, put the child down, grabbed Liu Yanyan’s flailing wrist with force that made her cry out.

“Liu Yanyan! I told you to stop! Wen Yan worked hard to make that soup. What kind of madness is this? If you don’t want to eat, then starve! No one owes you anything! Don’t go too far!”

Liu Yanyan froze under the cold, disdainful look in his eyes, falling silent except for suppressed sobs.

She tried to understand why the man before her had such an attitude.

“Host, the male lead truly still loves the original owner. See? Even now, he’s blaming the mistress on behalf of the original wife.”

“Anyone who disrupts the balance and causes him trouble will be abandoned without hesitation. Li Jingyan loves no one but himself. What Liu Yanyan mistook for true love was merely a tool for continuing the family line,” Wen Yan remarked sharply.

Silently tidying up the fragments, Wen Yan’s lowered lashes concealed a faint, cold smile.

This was only the beginning. After all, she was a conscientious nanny.