Chapter 09
The sound of “bang bang bang” echoed.
“Shen Yiyi! Shen Yiyi!”
Inside.
Everything was chaotic, filled with shouting.
Shen Yiyi didn’t immediately react to who it was, instead shrinking back.
When she heard “Aunt,” Shen Yiyi realized—it was Ling, the elder sister of Wanrou, the female lead of Perfect Against the Current.
Memories of Ling’s past actions flashed in Shen Yiyi’s mind.
She remembered clearly that in the original story, when the children were left alone, Li Chen would hurry to take care of them, while Li’s mother would bring them over to the old residence as well.
Of course, Li Chen never had any issues with the kids.
But Ling, being spoiled by Li’s mother, often didn’t treat the children well.
Sometimes they were scolded or even lightly punished.
Because of the children’s nature, a minor injury or scratch was rare but Ling paid special attention to every detail.
Of course, Ling was smart. Li Chen was easy to provoke, but if the children complained to him, they would get scolded, so they dared not speak out.
The children remembered being pinched by Ling, and the muscle memory made them cautious around her, even if they didn’t know why.
Shen Yiyi’s mind flashed with a hint of severity but didn’t dwell on revenge. Instead, she reached out to the children.
“Eat first, I’ll wait,” she said softly.
Then she strode forward determinedly.
“Dad, help mom!” Li Chen had just set down his chopsticks and moved forward, but the children urged him on.
Inside the room, Li Chen calmly asked, “What happened between your mother and Aunt?”
The children quickly tried to protect their own interests.
Li Chen, remaining composed, gestured for them to eat first and followed along.
Shen Yiyi had already reached Ling, gently touching her face, then suddenly pulled hard.
Ling didn’t notice at first. Li Zhu and the others, seeing this, reacted; the closer the pull, the stronger the tension. Li Zhu cried out,
“Mom! Aunt must be hiding meat!”
Ling tried to reason, but mother and son were already bent forward. Through the small opening, suddenly—
“Ah!”
They were struck sharply. Ling and Li Zhu lost balance and tumbled forward.
Shen Yiyi had anticipated this and gently caught the mother and son.
But she still held some force behind to prevent them from falling completely.
Li Chen…
Shen Yiyi turned and smiled.
Li Chen pressed his lips together.
The mother and son were in an awkward heap.
“Mom, get up, press!” Li Zhu shouted.
“Ah, my liver!” Ling quickly climbed up, helping her son as well, lifting them both while giving Shen Yiyi a faintly amused look.
Ling pointed at Shen Yiyi and said, “Shen Yiyi, why?”
Li Chen’s expression stiffened. He pulled Shen Yiyi behind him, but she tugged back, shaking her head.
It was easily handled, finally.
Li Chen’s expression darkened, but when he looked at Shen Yiyi, a subtle light appeared again.
But in just a moment, Shen Yiyi let go.
Li Chen turned his back, rubbing his shoulder.
“Ling, what is this?” Shen Yiyi smiled, calling her by name. “No need to hide, right?”
Ling was speechless.
“Mom,” Li Zhu focused on the food, standing up and sneaking a glance inside. The hall was full of cured meat, fish, chicken, eggs, and rice. He drooled, tugging at his mom,
“Meat! Rice!”
Ling, and even those who had just hurried over with Li’s mother and sister-in-law, were stunned by the abundant feast.
Was it really this plentiful before?
Probably not, right?
Li Zhu, seeing his mother hesitate, ran to the grandmother and said directly, “Grandma, meat!”
“What meat? Again!” Li’s mother scolded Ling, staring at her in disbelief, “What are you doing? Hurry back—can you calm down a bit?”
Ling snapped out of it, raising her head and shouting, “Mom, back where? Today with sister-in-law!”
Her eyes instinctively went to the meat and rice.
It had been so long since she had seen meat and rice, and now it smelled so delicious!
No reason could stop her—after all, it was her turn to eat. Who would dare prevent Shen Yiyi from feeding the children?
Chapter 8 – Punishing the Scum
Ling pulled Li Zhu over, pointing to the marks on his neck, “Sister-in-law, there’s no real grudge, right? Just tell me why you hit him?”
“Because cousin grabbed our fish!” The children were furious. “And bullied us!”
Mom and Dad told them to eat. Though they rarely had good meals, at home, they had it worse.
So each of them held onto Shen Yiyi, protective like little guardians.
Ling, having just approached Li Zhu’s neck before Shen Yiyi intervened, hadn’t really done anything significant.
