Yun Chuji hadn’t realized it herself, but she was unconsciously substituting Qin Wan for the mother from her own era.
And her mother, when faced with a similar situation, had made a completely different choice.
Her elder brother had once been infatuated with the top courtesan of a brothel in his youth. Her mother had spoken with him, but it came to nothing; her elder brother continued to frequent the red-light district. Afterward, her mother wrote a letter to her uncle, who was a county magistrate.
From then on, that top courtesan vanished.
Her elder brother also came to his senses. After a deep conversation with their mother, he began to study diligently and soon shone in the imperial examinations.
The reason Yun Chuji knew this story so clearly was not because her mother had personally taught her how to deal with such women—there was no need for that. It was because the story was famous, a celebrated tale passed around Qingling County.
Just as Yun Chuji had a reputation as a model clan matriarch, her mother had a reputation as a virtuous mother.
Her elder brother, in turn, gained the reputation of a prodigal son who had returned to the fold.
Their entire family had good reputations.
As for the vanished courtesan, she was merely the material upon which these reputations were carved, like a piece of stone or wood used for an inscription tablet or plaque. In any case, she was less important than the words themselves.
This impression was so deeply ingrained that even in a new era, facing someone who looked so much like her mother and was, by status, her mother, Yun Chuji was temporarily unable to break free from that past, glorious reputation. She subconsciously assumed Qin Wan would be just like her own mother, that she would naturally sacrifice an innocent woman who might affect her child’s future.
But it seemed that was not the case.
Qin Wan sat up straight, her attitude extremely serious. “I’ve taught you since you were little to keep your distance from omegas. A permanent mark is not something to be taken lightly; it should only be attempted after marriage. I never thought you would do something like this.”
“To force an omega to the point of wanting to have the mark removed, it seems she was unwilling from the start. Alphas are not like omegas. An alpha can control themselves in the beginning, so this is, of course, your fault.”
After a pause, Qin Wan operated her optical computer and transferred a large sum of money to Yun Chuji. “Take this money as that omega’s nutritional expenses for the year, as well as the surgery fee for removing the mark later on.”
Then, Yun Cheng also transferred a large sum of money to Yun Chuji. He said, “This is compensation for that omega. If this had been thirty years ago, she could have sued you.”
In truth, however, due to past stereotypes, both of Yun Chuji’s parents had independently arrived at a guess that was close to the truth.
They knew that with their daughter’s gloomy and taciturn personality, she was unlikely to attract any omegas. In fact, in the four years since she had presented, the alpha next door already had a second child, while she hadn’t even had a single date with an omega.
Considering this, to suddenly jump straight to permanently marking an omega, there must have been a rather unpleasant accident behind it.
They couldn’t imagine their daughter stooping to the level of drugging an omega, but they could imagine her taking advantage of someone in their moment of weakness.
Times had changed. Omegas in the inner circle had gradually abandoned the tradition of marrying right after presenting, casting it aside like a worn-out shoe. Many omegas didn’t have their own alpha to help them through their heats, leading to frequent accidents in that regard. Yun Chuji’s parents suspected their daughter had become one of those alphas.
Otherwise, removing a mark was no small surgery. If there had been even the slightest bit of willingness, the omega wouldn’t be so determined to have it removed immediately after a year.
Yun Chuji accepted the scolding and received the two sums of money, still somewhat dazed.
She didn’t understand. With parents like these, how could the original owner have grown up to be so extreme? Her memories were filled with hostility, as if she were deeply dissatisfied with most events in her life. But what was there in her life to be dissatisfied about?
She had a good education, freedom, understanding and kind parents, and she wasn’t poor.
Yun Chuji didn’t understand.
Beside her, Qin Wan looked at Yun Chuji’s expression and recalled her earlier apologetic attitude. She was struck by the thought that her words might have been too harsh. After all, the girl already knew she was wrong—besides, this child had never handled scolding well; she would lock herself in her room for days every time she was reprimanded.
Just as she was about to say something to soften the blow, she heard her daughter speak. “I understand. I will take good care of Miss Tang.”
Ah, so it was a female omega.
Qin Wan realized this, but after that, she was temporarily at a loss for words. They had never been close to their eldest daughter. Now that the reason for her disappearance was cleared up, it seemed they didn’t know how to continue the conversation.
At that moment, Yun Cheng spoke up. “Even though you have to take care of an omega, you still need to complete your studies.”
“Your teacher said you haven’t been to school in a long time. No matter what happens, you must always take care of your own life first.”
To be honest, Yun Chuji could still maintain her composure when facing Qin Wan, as her own mother had scolded her plenty of times. But facing Yun Cheng, she couldn’t suppress her nervousness at all. Growing up, her father had rarely spoken to her outside of New Year’s wishes. Yun Chuji subconsciously lowered her head and murmured a soft “mm.”
Qin Wan, however, thought Yun Cheng had frightened the child. At the end of the day, Yun Chuji was only twenty-one. It wasn’t unusual to make mistakes at that age, as long as she was willing to change.
“Alright, let’s not talk about this. Xiao Ji has her own plans,” Qin Wan quickly changed the subject, turning to Yun Chuji. “Are you living with that omega now?”
Yun Chuji nodded.
“Then should we ask her to come out? Our family can formally apologize to her.”
“I’ll ask her.”
Yun Chuji stood up and went to her room to call Tang Jianxi.
Behind her, after watching Yun Chuji enter the room, Qin Wan turned to her alpha with a worried expression. “Cheng, do you feel like Xiao Ji seems a bit distant from us?”
They had never been very close, but now it was as if she were looking at strangers. And yet, there was a sense of filial affection in her eyes, which was truly confusing.
Yun Cheng moved closer, taking her hand to soothe her. “Children are all like this when they grow up.”
Qin Wan seemed to accept this explanation, leaning into Yun Cheng’s embrace without another word.
Yun Chuji was currently explaining what had just happened to Tang Jianxi.
“I didn’t tell them the truth.”
“Hm?”
“Miss Yun’s parents look exactly like my parents. I couldn’t bring myself to say it.”
“Hm???”
“My mother asked if you want to come out and meet them. They want to apologize to you.”
“Ah?”
Tang Jianxi quickly refused. “No, that’s not necessary. This has nothing to do with them.”
“Alright. Also, there’s some compensation money. I’ve already transferred it to you. Miss Yun’s parents said it’s for you,” Yun Chuji continued.
Tang Jianxi looked at the brand-new transfer notification. For an ordinary omega, the amount was quite sincere. But the second miss of the Tang family was no ordinary omega, so she wasn’t moved by the money. Instead, a confusion similar to Yun Chuji’s arose within her. “How could parents like that raise a child like her?”
Yun Chuji was also deeply puzzled by this, but out of respect for the dead, she didn’t comment further. She only said, “Miss Tang, it seems I’ll really have to live on in this world as Miss Yun from now on.”
Tang Jianxi nodded, about to say she understood, but then the deeper meaning behind the words surfaced.
To live as the original Yun Chuji meant that the little antique had to take over another person’s life.
“Can you do it?” she asked.
Yun Chuji looked out the window. In this era, one had to go to special forest parks just to see greenery. The streets were filled with whizzing cars, rushing people, and enormous billboards. Everything was filled with human ingenuity and imagination. This was a completely new world.
“I can do it,” Yun Chuji said, her lips pressed tightly together.
However, Tang Jianxi had another question.
“You said the original Yun Chuji’s parents look like yours. Does that mean you look like her?”
Yun Chuji nodded, then added, “But I’m not as tall as Miss Yun. Ah, I’m not even as tall as you, Miss Tang. But our faces are the same. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s fate.”
An image of a mini version of Yun Chuji immediately popped into Tang Jianxi’s mind. Wow, put that way, it’s kind of cute.
Realizing what sort of nonsense she was thinking, Tang Jianxi quickly coughed and said to Yun Chuji, “Alright, since you’ve decided, let’s leave it at that for now.”
She ended the call swiftly.
Tang Jianxi sat in her car, continuing to work while she waited for Yun Chuji.
But as she worked, and worked…
Yun Chuji’s words kept jumping into her mind, disturbing her peace.
Tang Jianxi took off her glasses and said to her optical computer, “Bring up a photo of Yun Chuji.”
“Okay, reduce height by twenty-five centimeters.”
“Make the face thirty percent more youthful.”
“Change her clothes to the Great Liang Dynasty court lady’s dress I saved.”
Appearing before her eyes was a loli in ancient costume.
Tang Jianxi’s throat bobbed. She took a deep breath and instructed the optical computer, “Save this image.”
“Encrypt.”
“Copy and upload.”
At that moment, a deep sense of regret surfaced in Tang Jianxi’s heart. If only she had met the ancient Yun Chuji.
A Yun Chuji like that, even if she nagged her every day with nonsense about chastity and the like, she wouldn’t find her the least bit annoying.
Meanwhile, Yun Chuji, unaware that her original image had conquered Miss Tang, was nervously dealing with the original’s parents.
Fortunately, the original owner didn’t have a lively personality. As long as she didn’t say much, she could probably muddle through successfully.
And Yun Chuji wasn’t looking to get any solace from familial affection from the original’s parents. She simply wanted to see them, to interact with them on peaceful terms.
Doing so made her own past memories feel more real, confirming for her that she, too, had once had a life.
However, facing Qin Wan’s reserved yet meticulous care, and Yun Cheng’s quiet but obvious concern…
A sense of a daze began to wash over Yun Chuji.
She was certain now.
Even if it was disrespectful to her own parents to say so, she had to be honest and admit it.
These were a much better pair of parents than her original ones.
At least, that was the case for their daughter.
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