WBSGVS Chapter 257 Part 1

Chapter 257

A ten-year-old girl in a pink nightgown, wide watery eyes blinking up at them, asked her innocent question.

Even though Shao Mingxuan and Su Qiu hadn’t actually been doing anything—just talking late into the night—both of them were instantly flushed with embarrassment because of the private thoughts each carried in their hearts.

They prided themselves on having nothing to hide, yet still felt the need to explain.

Shao Mingxuan forced a smile. “Ali, don’t talk nonsense. Auntie Su is just a little upset, and since she’s my classmate, I was comforting her.”

Qingli tilted her head, sizing the two of them up.

She knew they wouldn’t dare “break the paper window” yet. In the original story, Su Qiu and Shao Mingxuan had never slept together before their respective divorces. Su Qiu couldn’t afford to have an affair—if Gu Junyi ever found out, she’d have a much harder time getting her share of the assets. Worse, she might lose everything and be thrown out with nothing.

The way Qingli looked at him made Shao Mingxuan feel incredibly uneasy, as if all his hidden thoughts had been laid bare. He urged, “Weren’t you going to see your mom? Go on. I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.”

Su Qiu, standing next to him, also forced a smile.

Qingli gave them a faint, unreadable smile before quickly heading toward Wei Xu’s room.

Opening the door, she’d planned to quietly climb into bed. But the moment she moved, the person inside had already turned on the light and was sitting up, eyes clear, voice gentle. “Why didn’t you say something? It’s dangerous to move around in the dark—you might trip.”

Qingli blinked in surprise. “Mom, you were already awake?”

Wei Xu’s gaze flickered in panic for a moment. She quickly shook her head, pressing Qingli down onto the bed and tucking her in. “No, I just woke up when I heard you. Go to sleep. You still have school in the morning.”

Qingli lay down obediently, but her eyes kept darting around. In a small voice, she said, “I just saw Dad and Auntie Su talking late at night. Is that why you couldn’t sleep?”

Wei Xu’s breathing hitched. She turned off the light, then placed her hand over her daughter’s eyes to block her view. Her voice was soft but firm. “That’s grown-up business. Kids shouldn’t get involved. I was asleep—you just woke me up.”

Lies.

Qingli didn’t fight it. She lay flat, eyes closed, but her mouth kept going. “You grown-ups always say kids shouldn’t interfere in adult matters, but this one clearly involves me too. Mom, is Dad about to cheat on you?”

“Ali!” Wei Xu’s voice rose slightly, then cut off. She pressed down gently but firmly, speaking in a hurried, slightly choked voice. “Just go to sleep!”

She was afraid that if her daughter kept talking, she herself would end up crying right in front of her.

That childish voice had pierced her heart, sharp and unyielding.

And yet, she still had to pretend she didn’t know.

How ironic.

She was Shao Mingxuan’s wife, after all.

But she had long known that he liked Su Qiu. The first time she realized it was during her postpartum month, when they were both brand-new parents. Even with a nanny and a housekeeper, they’d insisted on learning to care for the baby themselves. She was still recovering, unable to move much, and Shao Mingxuan had been run ragged. One night, in his sleep, he mumbled Su Qiu’s name over and over.

She hadn’t had the heart to say anything.

As the child grew, she wanted to avoid divorce even more. So she pretended not to hear, reasoning that since Su Qiu had married someone as powerful as Gu Junyi—even Shao Mingxuan couldn’t quite measure up—there was no way she’d come back for him.

Who could have imagined tonight’s scene?

Qingli hadn’t intended to push further, but some words had to be spoken if she wanted to make the wound sting enough to wake her mother up. Even if she got scolded for it, she still muttered in a deliberately sulky tone, “Why don’t you just get divorced? I don’t want a cheating dad. Or maybe you could cheat too?”

“…” Wei Xu froze, completely blindsided by her daughter’s suggestion.

Weren’t kids supposed to panic and get upset when their parents might divorce?

“Who… who told you that?” Wei Xu stammered, almost biting her own tongue in the process.

Qingli grinned. “Nobody. I just think it’s not fair. If Dad can cheat, then Mom should be allowed to cheat too.”

Wei Xu was speechless. “…Still just a child.”

So naïve, with no thought for consequences.

She, however, had plenty to worry about. She’d been a full-time housewife since graduation, had no job, and couldn’t win custody of the child. What would happen if she divorced?

“Sleep now.” Wei Xu patted her daughter’s stomach, coaxing her.

Qingli sighed silently and dropped the subject.

She’d just arrived in this world—this was enough for now.

No need to rush.

The next morning, Qingli got up on time, dressed beautifully, and went to school.

She was ten years old, in fourth grade, surrounded by classmates her own age. Qingli rarely dressed like a typical kid, but she found it surprisingly light and comfortable.

In her previous life, she’d worked hard for decades. In this one, she just wanted to be a happy little freeloader. With her family background, this time, she had nothing to worry about.

So why not enjoy being a kid?

“Ali, want to play cat’s cradle?” The girl sitting in front of her turned around with a smile.

“Sure!” Qingli nodded eagerly, holding out her hands. “Let’s do it.”

Soon, the two of them were happily playing together.

When school ended, the family driver came to pick her up.

Once home, Qingli immediately scanned the room. Su Qiu wasn’t there.

In the original plot, Su Qiu should have stayed for two days, only leaving after Gu Junyi called to apologize. Was she scared off by last night’s events? Afraid something might happen?

What a shame.

Qingli had been planning to stir up some trouble.

Wei Xu knew her daughter well. Seeing the flicker of expressions on her little face, she pinched those chubby cheeks and teased, “What are you thinking about?”