There's a saying that the smarter someone is, the easier it is for them to go astray.
Zhou Yuedong, the eldest of the siblings, was exactly that kind of person. He lacked warmth—not just because of his stepmother's abuse, but also because his biological mother, Zhou Yueshen's sister, had taken out her bitterness over a man's betrayal on him and his younger brother, beating and scolding them relentlessly. From then on, Zhou Yuedong harbored a deep hatred for women. The original host's eventual death had much to do with this sinister figure's behind-the-scenes scheming.
In the end, he even joined a research team and became one of the nation's scientists.
As for the second brother, Zhou Yuehan, though he seemed foolish now, he would grow up to become a mafia boss. In those days, the underworld dominated half the world, and he was one of its founders, living a life of reckless power.
Yet his final fate was to be hacked to death in the streets.
The youngest, Zhou Xiaoyao, had it even worse. While her two older brothers had at least lived with their biological mother for a few years, she had been sent to Zhou Yueshen's care from infancy. Zhou Yueshen, a man who had never even held a woman's hand, had no idea how to raise a child.
From the very beginning, Xiaoyao never experienced a shred of familial love. She didn’t speak until she was three. Later, when she went to school, she suffered bullying and was taken advantage of by scoundrels. Too timid to speak up, she eventually drank poison and died by suicide.
In short, of these three siblings, none except the eldest brother lived a long life.
Zhou Yueshen had given up his own happiness for the sake of his sister's three children, only to end up burying them all—white-haired, mourning the black-haired.
The whole family was steeped in tragedy.
Si Nian sighed softly.
Though she wasn’t one to care much about others' lives, now that she was here, she couldn’t just follow the original plot.
The three little brats hadn’t gone off the rails yet, and the older man wasn’t half bad either. With some effort, she might just be able to turn things around.
Si Nian set her goals:
1. Take good care of the three children—raise them properly.
2. Study hard. Even after marriage, she wouldn’t laze around. She needed a backup plan.
3. Build a relationship with Zhou Yueshen—have a child-free romance.
The man was undeniably handsome: broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs, with a cold and silent demeanor. She was curious to see what he’d look like when passion took over.
With her plan in place, Si Nian got up and headed downstairs.
Downstairs, Aunt Liu had already prepared the meal. The two older boys sat stiffly at the table, while Yaoyao was being force-fed in Aunt Liu’s arms.
The woman held a large spoon, shoving food into the little girl’s mouth as if she were a machine. The child’s chin and clothes were smeared with grease.
On the table sat a bowl of sour soup and a plate of burnt, unappetizing potatoes. The kids’ bowls contained nothing but watery rice porridge.
Si Nian’s frown deepened.
When Aunt Liu noticed her, she snorted coldly—clearly, she hadn’t prepared any food for Si Nian.
Zhou Yuedong was the first to notice her. Sensing a new presence in the house, he paused his eating and looked up, freezing the moment he saw her.
A stunningly beautiful young woman stood at the foot of the stairs, dressed in a white dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders—like a celestial being descending to earth.
Zhou Yuehan also turned to look, but unlike his composed older brother, his mouth fell open in shock.
As for Yaoyao, though still tiny, she seemed to recognize the woman who had given her candy earlier. She babbled excitedly, even forgetting to eat.
Aunt Liu slapped her impatiently and snapped, "What are you yelling for? Eat!"
Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan flinched, immediately lowering their heads. Zhou Yuedong’s fingers clenched around his chopsticks, turning white, but he didn’t dare say a word.
Yaoyao, as if conditioned by fear, didn’t even cry. She just trembled, her face pale, tears welling but not falling as Aunt Liu roughly shoved another spoonful into her mouth.
The sight enraged Si Nian. She might not be particularly fond of children, but she despised people who took their frustrations out on them.
The three siblings were living under someone else’s roof. At ten years old, Zhou Yuedong probably understood the situation but didn’t dare resist—a clear sign of long-term oppression.
No wonder they all turned out twisted. It wasn’t entirely the original host’s fault.
Her presence had merely been the last straw.
Face tight with anger, Si Nian strode forward and snatched Yaoyao away. "Do you even know how to take care of a child?" she demanded coldly. "You’re being paid to look after them, and this is how you treat them?"
Aunt Liu, already resentful of Si Nian’s presence, sneered. "What abuse? You’d better watch your words. We country folk don’t coddle kids like you city people. This is how everyone raises their children!"
Si Nian smirked. "Oh? So if I ever meet your sons or grandsons, I can treat them the same way?"
Aunt Liu nearly choked. "You wouldn’t dare!"
"Wasn’t that what you just taught me?"
Furious but unable to retort, Aunt Liu spat, "You’re just mad because I didn’t make food for you! Well, Zhou Yueshen only asked me to cook for the kids, not you. If you’re hungry, make your own damn meal!"
She had done her research on the Lin Family. Rumor had it that they had tried three times to bring their biological daughter back, but the girl had refused—too used to her cushy life to return to the hardships of the countryside.
With those delicate, unworked hands of hers, Zhou Yueshen would have to be insane to marry her.
Let her starve. See if she could still be so sharp-tongued then.
Si Nian had been waiting for this. Gently setting down the trembling Yaoyao, she wiped the girl’s mouth and said softly, "Yaoyao, sit here and be good. Auntie will make you something delicious, okay?"
Yaoyao seemed to understand, staring at her with wide, hopeful eyes.
Her grimy little face was barely recognizable, but her gaze was startlingly clear.
How could such an innocent child be treated like this?
The thought made Si Nian’s heart ache.
She glanced at Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan, who were watching her with complicated expressions, then turned and marched into the kitchen.
The kitchen was simple—a wood-burning stove with a large iron wok embedded in it. The shelves held a messy assortment of items: some rice, flour, and basic seasonings like salt and MSG.
In the corner stood an almost-empty rice jar, next to a small sack of sprouted potatoes and sweet potatoes, along with a vat of pickled vegetables. Beyond that, there were no other ingredients.
Si Nian couldn’t help but frown.
How had this family managed to ruin such a good hand they’d been dealt?
As she rummaged around, her eyes caught a bamboo basket tucked under the counter.
Opening it, she found half a slab of pork belly, eggs, and beneath them—a small bag of premium flour!
These were all good ingredients!
There was no reason to hide such things instead of eating them.
Remembering the pitiful meal on the table, Si Nian’s expression darkened.
