There had been 216 staff and guests at the Firenze Hotel on the day of the incident.
Out of those, 110 were killed, and 18 were injured.
When the news broke, it sent shockwaves across the country.
But strangely enough, the public wasn’t focused on the killer.
Instead, their attention turned to someone else entirely.
Ye Qingju turned off her phone with an expressionless face.
Even while watching a mukbang livestream, people were spamming the chat with messages about Qi Weiran, and some were outright cursing her.
Can’t a girl live in peace?
Ever since that day, the number of black-suited bodyguards at the Qi residence had noticeably increased. The whole atmosphere had become tenser—even Aunt Zhang had started speaking in hushed tones.
The only things that remained unchanged were Ye Qingju’s daily pig-feeding routine... and Qi Weiran’s consistent absence.
As she reached to turn off her bedside lamp and sleep, a sharp, piercing scream suddenly echoed from the room next door.
Ye Qingju sprang up with practiced ease, slid into her slippers, and bolted out the door.
Aunt Zhang and the other maids stayed in the smaller guesthouse next to the main villa, so only two people actually lived in the massive mansion:
Her, and the little boy who’d been prone to night terrors ever since moving in—Qi Xinian.
She pushed open his door. A small lump was trembling under the covers of the children’s bed.
Ye Qingju walked over and peeled the blanket off the boy, who was nearly suffocating himself in panic.
“Qi Xinian, it’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”
The child kept flailing and screaming until Ye Qingju gently pulled him into her arms.
She stroked his damp hair, matted with cold sweat, and murmured softly:
“There, there... It’s all fake. Nothing to be afraid of.”
Even though the therapy sessions and hypnosis had helped him start forgetting the traumatic memories, he was still young. They crept back in through his nightmares.
With Ye Qingju’s quiet comfort, the little dumpling finally calmed down.
Once he was stable, she tucked him back into bed, pulled up the covers, and got ready to leave.
But a tiny hand reached out and tugged lightly at the hem of her shirt.
It was a light touch—she could’ve easily pulled away.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she scratched her head, sighed, and climbed into the child-sized bed next to him.
Qi Xinian’s big round eyes widened as if he wanted to say something, but Ye Qingju just pulled him into her arms and gave him a sleepy pat on the back, yawning as she spoke:
“Want me to tell you a bedtime story so you can fall asleep?”
The little boy scrunched his face and muttered with disdain:
“Only little kids need bedtime stories.”
Yet despite his words, he snatched his Ultraman plushie and hugged it tightly like a reflex.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he curled up against Ye Qingju’s chest—his shiny black eyes glimmering expectantly, practically demanding she begin.
Ye Qingju sighed inwardly.
This kid’s already two-faced at such a young age. What’s he gonna be like when he grows up?
Clearing her throat, she began slowly:
“Once upon a time, deep in the forest, there lived an elephant.”
“One day, the elephant went to the bathroom and realized... he forgot to bring toilet paper. So he turned to the little white rabbit beside him and asked, ‘Hey, are you afraid of losing fur?’”
“The rabbit said, ‘Not really.’ So the elephant picked up the rabbit and wiped his butt with him.”
“The next day, the elephant was eating lunch and saw a squirrel nearby. He asked, ‘Hey, are you afraid of losing fur?’”
“The squirrel replied, ‘Nope.’ So the elephant used him to wipe his mouth.”
“But then the squirrel shouted, ‘I’m the same rabbit from yesterday!’”
“And then... the elephant died of disgust.”
Qi Xinian: “......”
He was about to die of disgust, too.
Just as he opened his mouth to protest this ridiculous story, Ye Qingju—who had been holding him—suddenly started snoring.
She’d fallen asleep. Deep, sweet, and dead to the world.
Qi Xinian pouted, feeling thoroughly wronged. Hugging his Ultraman plush tight, he closed his eyes with a sulky murmur:
“Ye Qingju, you big meanie...”
At that moment, he had no idea what tomorrow had in store.
The next day, Qi Xinian stood frozen, staring up at a massive, colorful building that looked like something out of a cartoon.
Children’s songs played cheerfully from nearby speakers.
He turned his round little face up toward Ye Qingju, his voice full of disbelief:
“This is the ‘fun place’ you were talking about!?”
Ye Qingju smiled gently:
“Surprised? Wasn’t expecting this, were you?”
She’d dragged him out of bed at the crack of dawn—coaxing, bribing, and tricking him all the way here.
Because five-year-olds should be where five-year-olds belong: with other kids. Not locked up in some mansion with a private tutor.
That was her belief, anyway. It wasn’t really her business—until Qi Weiran told her to “teach the kid.”
Well, if she was in charge of his education, then daycare it was.
“You—! You can’t do this to me!” Qi Xinian’s little heart shattered into a million pieces.
He was a genius! How could he be dumped in with a bunch of toddlers!?
Ye Qingju ignored him completely and turned to the kindly-looking old woman at the gate.
“Principal, our boy’s smart—really sharp—but he’s a bit temperamental. Talks tough, but he’s a softie at heart. Please take care of him.”
Even though Qi Weiran had handed the kid over to her, Ye Qingju had still asked for his opinion before doing something this drastic.
She had been ready to back off if he refused.
But to her surprise, he agreed.
He even personally selected this school—a modest place that wasn’t particularly famous, didn’t have the best teachers, and wasn’t even located in the best part of the capital.
It wasn’t until much later that Ye Qingju would learn...
This kindergarten was owned by Qi Weiran.
But that was a story for another day.
Right now, Qi Xinian was on the verge of tears.
Just as he was about to bawl, the old principal knelt beside him and gently patted his head.
“Your mommy told me you’re more mature than most kids. And from the looks of it, I think she’s right.”
Qi Xinian shut up instantly, tilted his chin with pride, and muttered:
“She’s not my mommy.”
Then, clutching the Ultraman backpack Ye Qingju had stuffed in his arms, he walked toward the school all on his own.
The principal’s eyes twinkled with a knowing smile.
With the kid’s education sorted, Ye Qingju finally let out a huge sigh of relief.
Xiao Jiji sounded worried in her head:
【Host, isn’t it risky to expose the male lead like this? What if the transmigrator uses him as leverage?】
But at the same time, this was also the perfect bait to draw that very transmigrator out.
That part, it didn’t say aloud.
Ye Qingju just shook her head:
【That’s why I asked Qi Weiran first. My guess is that everyone in that kindergarten—including the principal—is his.】
【Besides, what’s worse? Keeping him locked up at home like a prisoner, or letting him interact with other kids? You know how people turn into obsessive control freaks? From being cooped up too long!】
【And anyway, I’ll be the one dropping him off and picking him up every day. Great chance to bond, and even better to keep an eye out for suspicious characters. Two birds, one stone.】
Climbing into the car, Ye Qingju said to the Qi family’s driver:
“Uncle Li, take me to the office.”
Uncle Li was about to nod, then suddenly froze.
He hesitated and said, “Ma’am, did you forget? The master... forbade you from seeing him.”
Ye Qingju nodded cheerfully:
“I know. I’m not going to see him.”
Uncle Li wanted to ask Then who are you going to see?, but in the end, he kept quiet.
He just sighed internally, assuming it was a flimsy excuse to visit the master again.
Sigh... looks like the Qi household’s in for another day of chaos.
And he wasn’t the only one who thought so.
The moment Ye Qingju stepped into the usually quiet and orderly lobby of Qi Group HQ, the whole space fell silent—so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The new receptionist watched in shock as her normally elegant and composed senior’s expression shifted instantly. The older woman muttered something under her breath, then reluctantly got up and rushed out to greet her.
“Mrs. Qi... You’re here.”
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