After Jianglai and Yingyu Chi briefly discussed what to say to her daughter, she slowly left the hotel room with her sister-in-law's support. Even after a night's rest, the hangover made her steps slightly unsteady.

As they walked toward the elevator, a nearby room door creaked open. A tall, beautiful woman leaned against the frame, silently watching Jianglai's retreating back. Had Jianglai glanced back, she would have recognized Xu Ruobing—the woman from last night's one-night stand.

Xu Ruobing gazed at Jianglai's slender figure. Her pale fingertips gently touched her lips, reminiscing about yesterday. She'd held back at the last moment, tossing and turning all night with a trace of regret. It was her first time doing this; she couldn't fully let go. She'd come to the bar for a one-night stand anyway—what use was morality? A married woman wasn't off-limits.

Jianglai had been truly alluring. Her soft whimpers under Xu Ruobing were like a kitten's—seductive but not vulgar, tempting one to devour her whole. But there was no cure for regret. Xu Ruobing could only hope for their next meeting. "I'll wait for you, kitten," she whispered.

On the drive home, Jianglai stared out the window at the shifting scenery. She thought of her daughter. Time flew so fast. Could her late wife in heaven see their girl had grown up? The strained silence between them made Jianglai frown in regret. If only she'd shown more care when her daughter was young, things wouldn't be so tense now.

Jianglai knew she'd missed so much—parent-teacher meetings, birthdays, almost everything. As a mother, she'd felt absent, missing it all. Her daughter had lost her mother's love, and Jianglai had given little maternal warmth in return. When had their bond frozen completely? It started in middle school, when her daughter hired a fake mom for a parent-teacher meeting. That was the first time Jianglai had yelled at her. Now, it seemed trivial, yet it shattered everything. Back then, Jianglai had been irrational. Her daughter likely wanted to silence school gossip, but Jianglai thought she was forgetting her late wife. Jianglai knew less about her daughter's struggles than her sister-in-law did. Even with recent efforts to mend things, it was too late. They could never go back.

They soon reached home. Jianglai's house wasn't near the city center—a walk from the subway. With her finances, she could afford better. But she'd chosen this spot for a promise to her wife: waking to riverside views would be romantic. From the south balcony's floor-to-ceiling windows, the river glittered. Sunset painted the sky purple—the most beautiful moment. Yet that shared future was gone forever.

Per their hotel plan, Jianglai would pose as Yingyu Chi's former college classmate, while she herself was "on a business trip." They'd keep the lie as long as possible. Even if it failed, it'd give her daughter time to adjust.

"Don't worry," Yingyu Chi said. "I'm here. I'll cover for you. But whatever happens next—stay calm." Her words eased Jianglai, though the last part puzzled her.

Jianglai pressed the familiar doorbell. She braced for her daughter's cold face. Instead, the door flew open, and Jiang Leyi clung to Yingyu Chi like a koala.

"Auntie, I missed you so much!" Jiang Leyi chirped, arms wrapped tight around Yingyu Chi's neck.

Yingyu Chi stroked her head gently, smiling sweetly. This lively girl was worlds apart from the cold daughter Jianglai remembered. Jiang Leyi looked like her—reserved face, thin-skinned, narrow eyes often indifferent, a tiny mole under her eye. She never seemed the type to act cute. Except in childhood, Jianglai had never seen her like this. That long-lost feeling of being fussed over made Jianglai ache to take Yingyu Chi's place. She hadn't hugged her daughter in so long.

But Jiang Leyi noticed Jianglai's stare. She sized up the stranger: a stunning figure—full chest, perky hips, long legs, snow-white skin radiating innocence and allure. Her gaze lingered, especially on Jianglai's chest. *One hand probably couldn't hold it*, she mused.

Jianglai followed her daughter's eyes downward. Her warm smile faltered. Why was she staring at her body?

After a thorough look, Jiang Leyi beamed innocently. "Sister, you have such a great figure!"

Hearing "sister" made Jianglai happy to see her smile. But why compliment her body? This wasn't the daughter she knew. Jianglai's head heated up. She struggled to speak, then stiffly replied, "You're beautiful too!"

Still, Jiang Leyi's curious gaze roamed over her. She blinked, long lashes like little fans, eyes full of questions. This "sister" wore her dad's clothes. Why?

"Could it be..." Jiang Leyi tilted her head. "Are you my stepmom?"