Evening had settled softly over the Jia household, casting a warm amber glow through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The scent of freshly brewed tea mingled with the distant laughter from the kitchen. It had been a long but joyful day of celebration—Baby Naun's one-month mark—but not everything had gone smoothly.
Jia Lan, who had been in the guest lounge upstairs helping to organize gift envelopes, came downstairs just as the hallway lights flickered on. Her boots tapped lightly on the polished wooden floor as she stepped into the sitting room, only to be met with a strange, heavy silence.
Xu Li was sitting on the low sofa, her back slightly hunched, a warm shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her hands, which normally rested calmly over her belly or Baby Naun's bassinet, were trembling slightly. Jia Zhe sat beside her, one arm protectively around her shoulder, his expression cold and unreadable.
Jia Lan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What happened?" she asked quietly, stepping into the room, her posture graceful but alert.
Xu Li hesitated, then smiled—wobbly and brave. "Nothing much, really. Just... a visit."
Jia Lan turned to her brother. "Xu Li, you're the gentle one. He isn't."
Jia Zhe didn't mince words. "Her sister-in-law opened her mouth again. Talked about how she gave birth to two sons. Made it sound like our daughter is a disappointment. I told her, very clearly, not to say another word in our house."
Jia Lan's brow arched. "And your in-laws?"
"Her nephew immediately ran for the food before even greeting anyone," he said flatly. "Her parents tried to calm things down, but their voices were so soft, it was like they were defending the wrong side."
Xu Li sighed. "My father looked uncomfortable. My mother... she kept saying we should all try to get along."
Jia Lan gently sat beside her, fingers brushing Xu Li's. "And what about you? How do you feel?"
Xu Li swallowed hard. "Disappointed. Again. I shouldn't be. But every time, I keep thinking—maybe this time they'll stand up for me. Maybe they'll see how much I'm loved here and not feel the need to... compare. But no. Same silence. Same favoritism."
There was a long pause. Jia Lan looked at her sister-in-law with quiet warmth. "You know, I've read many novels where the protagonist transmigrates into a family filled with people like your sister-in-law. And every time, I shiver."
Xu Li let out a surprised laugh through her tears. "You're impossible."
"I'm elegant," Jia Lan corrected, wiping a tear from Xu Li's cheek. "But impossible is close."
Jia Zhe gave his sister a grateful nod. "I don't regret saying what I did. Not for a second. Our daughter will grow up knowing she's cherished. Anyone who dares to lessen her in my presence will face worse than cold words next time."
Xu Li's eyes grew moist again—not from sadness, but from the flood of emotions. "I don't know what I did to deserve this family."
"You married well," Jia Lan teased. "And now you're stuck with all of us."
She stood, smoothing her skirt. "I'll inform Mother and Grandmother quietly. There's no need to bring this into tomorrow. We're here for Baby Naun, not for drama. But if your sister-in-law opens her mouth again—I will not be half as polite as Jia Zhe."
Just then, Yao Jing poked her head in. "Hey! We're setting the table for a light supper. Are you all coming?"
Jia Lan turned back with her practiced, polite smile. "Yes, we're coming. But we're eating on our terms."
Xu Li chuckled as Jia Zhe helped her up gently.
As the three of them walked toward the dining room, lit warmly and filled with the aroma of chicken soup and sesame buns, a new resolve formed in Xu Li's heart. The people who had failed to love her for years no longer held power over her.
She had a new family now. One that defended her loudly—and loved her even louder.
And as Baby Naun gurgled from her nearby crib, her tiny fingers reaching toward the flickering ceiling lamp, Jia Lan whispered under her breath:
"Whatever heaven sent me here… thank you. Thank you for not putting me in their house."
Just as the family gathered for a final toast with warm osmanthus tea and sweet rice cakes to mark the conclusion of Baby Naun's one-month celebration, Jia Lan felt a soft chime echo in her mind.
> [Ding! Daily Sign-In Successful.]
Congratulations! You have received:
— 500 yuan (automatically added to your personal account)
— A complimentary relaxation sachet for postpartum mothers (placed directly into inventory)
She blinked, then smiled faintly. The system truly had timing—it always seemed to reward her at the moments she needed a little pick-me-up or to share with those she loved.
She glanced across the room. Xu Li, still glowing, cradled Baby Naun as Jia Zhe hovered like a bodyguard nearby. Grandfather Jia was laughing heartily with Grandmother Jia, while Mother Jia passed around plates of candied lotus seeds.
The one-month celebration had gone smoothly, and even with a hint of confrontation earlier, everyone was now smiling, talking, and relaxed.
Jia Lan stretched her arms and looked out at her gathered family, heart full.
Another day closed in joy. Another milestone reached.
And Jia Lan? She was more than ready for tomorrow.