Chapter Ten: Surely You Don’t Want Me to Tell Yichao, Do You?

Since her transmigration, Jin An Shen had completely freed herself from the miserable life of a corporate drone she’d endured in her previous life. Once again, waking naturally just before noon, she slipped on her slippers, ready to find something to eat, when a quarrel from downstairs caught her attention.

“This is mine!”

“Tch, you bumpkin, it’s just a toy. Why be so petty? I’ll just buy it from you. My mom has plenty of money.”

“No!”

“Gu Li, just let your brother have it. If you don’t behave, Auntie will tell your dad.”

Hearing the voices of her little ones, Jin An furrowed her brow and quickened her steps down the stairs.

In the center of the living room stood a robust little boy, easily twice Gu Li’s height, tugging fiercely at the teddy bear Gu Li clutched—the very one she had gifted him on their day at the amusement park.

Beside the boy stood a woman dressed in luxurious attire, a large emerald ring adorning her hand. She crossed her arms, chin raised slightly, her face dripping with an arrogant disdain as she coldly observed her son’s rude attempt to snatch the toy.

That was Gu Yi Chao’s elder sister, Gu Yi Juan.

Facing an opponent twice his size, Gu Li held the bear tightly, his small face flushed red, like a tiny beast guarding its food, showing no trace of fear or retreat, matching the boy’s struggle blow for blow.

The villa’s staff gathered around anxiously, watching the young master struggle, worry etched across their faces, but none dared intervene due to Gu Yi Juan’s presence.

“Oh dear, if you can’t even win against Gu Li, what a useless boy you are!” Gu Yi Juan scolded her son impatiently, unable to maintain her composure.

She turned her head, softening her tone with a smile as she coaxed, “Li Li, why don’t you give me the bear for now? Once your brother is done playing, I’ll return it to you, okay?”

Though she spoke gently, her hand, painted with bright crimson lacquer, moved with ruthless force toward the bear in Gu Li’s arms.

“No!” Gu Li shouted, but the strength of a child could not match that of an adult.

The teddy bear was abruptly torn away by Gu Yi Juan, and the sudden momentum sent Gu Li stumbling backward, nearly falling hard on the carpet.

Instinctively, Gu Li closed his eyes, his small mouth tightening in frustration, fists clenched tightly.

He had grown used to this—having his toys snatched and being pushed around.

When he grew up and became a man, he vowed he would make them taste what it felt like to have their toys taken away.

Yet the pain he anticipated never came.

A slender, strong hand steadied his back, while another pale hand darted out like lightning, deftly reclaiming the bear from the woman’s grasp.

Jin An turned up her nose, her voice cold and disdainful, suddenly echoing through the entire living room.

“Tsk, you’re already in your fifties, yet you’re fighting with a child not even two years old over a toy. Have you no shame?”

Gu Yi Juan, only in her early forties, immediately paled. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Jin An blinked innocently, a trace of sarcastic smirk tugging at her lips. “Am I wrong? Snatching toys from a child under two years old—what do you plan to do with that old face of yours, paste it on the wall as soundproofing?”

As the woman’s face twisted in anger and her grip loosened for a moment, Jin An seized the opportunity, effortlessly snatching the teddy bear back from Gu Yi Juan.

She returned the bear to Gu Li’s arms and ruffled the soft hair on his head, speaking loudly without concealing her voice:

“Li Li did very well. When faced with bad women and bad children like these, you must never bow down to them. Now, just wait—I'll make sure to stand up for you.”

Gu Yi Juan sneered, eyes filled with contempt, clearly not taking this so-called standing up seriously.

She knew all too well the nature of this sister-in-law of Gu Yi Chao’s.

Though Gu Yi Chao now held power in the family, Jin An had once bowed and scraped before the Gu family to gain their approval, always submissive before Gu Yi Juan and frequently showering her with expensive gifts.

She didn’t believe Jin An would truly risk severing ties over a little burden like Gu Li.

“Little sister-in-law, it’s just a broken toy. Is it really worth making such a fuss? I can just buy it from you at full price. If you apologize to me now, I might consider not pursuing this offense. Otherwise, I’m sure you wouldn’t want me to tell Yi Chao how you treated me.”

Gu Yi Juan looked at Jin An with disdain, expecting a trembling apology and fawning compliance, along with the surrender of the coveted toy.

But Jin An was no longer the person she used to be.

She no longer bullied the weak or kowtowed to the strong, no longer resorted to sly tactics with Gu Li while groveling to the Gu family. Besides, these people were only connected to Gu Yi Chao by blood and hardly familiar.

Since Gu Yi Chao’s accident, not a single member of the Gu family had come to visit.

Gu Yi Juan’s sudden, empty-handed visit was clearly under the guise of concern but had ulterior motives—most likely some thorny matter for which she sought Gu Yi Chao’s help.

Having spent the past few days bonding with Gu Li and exchanging a few words with Gu Yi Chao, Jin An sensed the latter’s guard toward her was gradually lowering.

If a complaint were to be made, it was uncertain who Gu Yi Chao would side with.

Gu Yi Juan’s arrogance was utterly baffling.

Jin An handed Gu Li over to the nearby nanny and rose, swiftly reaching toward the emerald on Gu Yi Juan’s hand.

Gu Yi Juan felt a sudden chill at her finger and before she could react, her precious emerald wedding ring had been firmly snatched into Jin An’s grasp.

Jin An toyed casually with the heavy ring, even flicking it up and down in front of Gu Yi Juan, a defiant smirk curving her lips.

“Since Miss Gu is so rich and generous, I quite like this ring. How about you let me have it?”

Watching her treasured wedding ring being snatched away and nearly tossed to the floor several times, Gu Yi Juan’s face darkened, her heart aching.

“You must be dreaming! Do you know how important this ring is? Give it back at once!”

Hearing this, Jin An raised an eyebrow, imitating Gu Yi Juan’s earlier tone and manner, speaking slowly:

“It’s just a ring. I can buy it from you at full price. If you apologize to Li Li now, he might not pursue your offense. Otherwise, I’m sure you wouldn’t want me to tell Yi Chao how you’ve been bullying Gu Li.”