Transmigrated as a vicious stepmother, I raised a child who became a heartthrob.

Pei Hui clutched her clothes, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. She was still somewhat afraid, but she mustered her courage nonetheless.

"why?"

Jiang Zhuhua asked.

"Mom, don't be angry. I just think we need to save some money. These clothes are still wearable. The teacher said that without money, we can't do anything."

Because he wasn't paying attention, his tone involuntarily became a little fierce. Jiang Zhuhua saw the child's softened thorns suddenly stand up.

It even looked pitiful and ingratiating, its eyes glistening with tears. Like a little dog that had run away from its owner.

“If you call me ‘Mom,’ then you are my child from now on. Of course, I will never starve you.”

Jiang Zhuhua then pointed to the clothes he was wearing.

"Your clothes are worn out and quite dirty. You should get some new clothes; it's getting cold."

The kind of dirt on clothes that can't be washed off; it's embedded in the fabric. The whole garment looks filthy.

New clothes aren't convenient to wear right away, as they inevitably get dusty and greasy from storage or the manufacturing process. It's better to wear this outfit for now. That's why Jiang Zhuhua let him wander around in his dirty clothes the whole way.

Jiang Zhuhua only left him a new coat to keep him warm; the rest were sent to be washed.

"Okay, Mom."

Pei Hui said obediently.

"Go take a shower first, your clothes will be here soon. I'll knock on your bathroom door and leave them outside for you to wear."

Even if the child is young, it's still important to be mindful of the differences between boys and girls. Jiang Zhuhua yawned and headed straight for the door.

The clothes delivered by the dry cleaners were neatly sorted and placed. The fluffy onesie pajamas were left outside for Pei Hui. The window was also closed; the child might catch a cold if exposed to the draft after his bath.

The curtains were also chosen to be opaque to prevent peeping.

Jiang Zhuhua lay on his bed, and as he fell into a deep sleep, his body gradually relaxed and he sank into a dark dream.

On the other side, Pei Hui carefully wiped his body, avoiding the bruises. The warm water washing over him was a different kind of sensation.

He moved a small stool and sat under the showerhead, quietly letting the water run.

She's so different; she's unlike any other stepmother people talk about.

People say stepmothers beat children, cut corners on food, and even throw their children out to be eaten by wolves.

But she was different. She would buy him new clothes, respect him, chat with him proactively, and never hit him. She would teach him knowledge instead of letting him figure it out on his own.

It felt like a dream.

Pei Hui's fingers were intertwined as he dug at his hand, drawing blood. The thin bloodstains were washed away with water.

It felt like a dream, but my hands hurt.

If this is a dream, and if it's a dream before death, please make it long.

He washed himself clean and changed into soft pajamas, though he looked a little childish. He was already six years old.

The bed is so soft. So wide. It seems like I could roll around on it a few times and not fall off. I don't have to worry about falling out of bed while I'm sleeping.

Pei Hui carefully slipped into bed, a smile on his lips, but his brow was slightly furrowed.

The wind outside was still howling, but it did not disturb the peace inside the house.

Jiang Zhuhua only took a short nap of about an hour during his lunch break, and he quickly woke up.

She grabbed a hair tie and tied her hair up; she needed to find a new school for the child.

Children sometimes say things unintentionally, but they are definitely influenced by the people around them, which is a form of invisible violence.

Although the initial reason for taking the child into one's own hands was for profit, if one is to raise him, one cannot raise him to be the kind of love-starved, sensitive, and yandere character depicted in the original work.

I only have money, no power, and I'm currently unemployed, so hiring a secretary isn't worthwhile.

Jiang Zhuhua turned on his computer and searched for schools in the city. His child still needed to attend kindergarten. Even if it was only for one year, they had to follow the plan.

She searched until three or four in the afternoon, only snapping out of her reverie when a knock on the door brought her to her senses. Several options were written on the blank sheet of paper.

Jiang Zhuhua was startled by the knocking, then realized there was someone else in the room. The door opened, revealing a short person carrying a large tray with a tea set and steaming tea on it.

The tray was so big it almost covered people up.

Without time to think, Jiang Zhuhua took the tray from him.

"Don't do dangerous things."

His anger flared up almost instantly, inexplicably and inexplicably. Jiang Zhuhua's tone also became stern.

"This is boiling water. You're so small, if you spill it you'll get scalded and your skin will be burned off, do you know that?"

Jiang Zhuhua asked sternly. He placed the tray on the small coffee table in the room.

Pei Hui had originally thought she would be happy, happy to see how filial he was. He was a little stunned when he was scolded. He awkwardly rubbed his hands, which had been pressed red.

Is your hand burned?

Upon seeing the red seal, Jiang Zhuhua felt a string in his brain twitching.

She suddenly remembered another scene. It was the family she had been adopted by before. When she first arrived, she also tried desperately to please them, but she always ended up making things worse.

Pei Hui is so much like her back then that she hardly needs to think before she knows what it means to flatter.

Therefore, she felt even more strongly that a certain string in her mind was about to break.

"The item was just a bit heavy. I didn't burn my hand."

Pei Hui keenly sensed that her mother was angry because of her injury, so she made her some tea.

But he didn't understand.

"Mom, don't you like drinking tea? Would you like to try the tea I brewed? I quite enjoy brewing tea, and I can brew some for you next time."

Pei Hui strode to the table, picked up a teacup, and handed it to Jiang Zhuhua as if presenting a treasure.

Jiang Zhuhua took the hand and slammed it down on the table, his face even more grim.

"Go stand in the corner. Think about what you did wrong. You have three minutes."

Is it really filial piety for a six-year-old child to serve hot tea to their parents? Jiang Zhuhua doesn't think so.

They had only known each other for a short time, and she was in a superior position, so the other person was trying to curry favor with her. This was not the outcome she wanted.

She needs a close relationship where the other person listens to her and understands her concerns, not just someone on a household registration book.

You must take responsibility for the other person's life.

Pei Hui stood in the corner, not feeling that this was any kind of punishment. It was just that being reprimanded on his very first day made him feel apprehensive and uneasy. A mixture of self-loathing and a sense of "I knew it!"

Should mothers be like fathers?

However, her mother's methods were much gentler.

"Your three minutes are up. Say something."

Punishment is not the key to solving the problem. Jiang Zhuhua simply let him think about it.

"I was wrong, Mom."

Although Pei Hui didn't think he had done anything wrong, he still obediently answered.