Be Careful, Scum Dad! Mommy Is Back!

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Competing with the Ji Family for the Child

The tent was pitched, and the three kids began to move their toys inside like little hamsters.

Ji Chao and Ji Ze handed toys in from the outside, while Lu Nuonuo, wearing adorable socks, stepped around inside the tent arranging the toys.

Once they finished moving everything, all three faces glowed with a cherry-pink warmth.

Lu Xining hurried to get them some water.

Liu Xixi held a kite with a face full of sorrow and grievance. She raised her hand towards Ji Ze and said, “Xiao Ze, don’t you want to fly a kite anymore? Auntie has already brought the kite down.”

Ji Chao had already taken off his shoes to enter the tent and, along with Lu Nuonuo, turned to look at his brother.

Ji Ze, in the midst of taking off one shoe, paused his movements, visibly tempted by the kite in Liu Xixi’s hands.

Seeing this, Liu Xixi immediately went over and grasped his hand, her gaze shifting to Ji Chao inside the tent as she coaxed, “Xiao Chao, Xiao Ze, what’s so fun about the tent? Come out and fly kites with us.”

Lu Nuonuo sat obediently inside the tent, blinking and lowering her head to play with her toys alone.

If someone played with her, she was happy.

If no one played with her, she played by herself.

This was the most endearing trait of the little one.

Just like her mother.

Suddenly, a small toy appeared in Lu Nuonuo’s palm, and she looked up to meet Ji Chao’s smiling eyes.

He touched the little Jiu Jiu on her head and said to Liu Xixi, “Thanks, Aunt Liu, but I’d rather play in the tent.”

The tent was pitched beside the camping canopy.

Lu Xining was cutting fruit for the three children, overhearing Liu Xixi’s words, and glanced at Ji Chao and Ji Ze.

Seeing the undisguised longing in Ji Ze’s eyes, she immediately understood.

Although she was Ji Ze’s biological mother, the child had always been close to Liu Xixi.

You can’t force affection from a child, so she said directly to Ji Ze, “If you want to go, then go.”

Ji Chao also turned to look at his brother, giving him a nod of approval.

Ji Ze glanced at Lu Xining and, seeing that she didn’t seem to care, felt unhappy.

Hmph! He would go then! Since she didn’t like him anyway.

He got up and left the tent.

Lu Nuonuo continued playing with her building blocks, her two little Jiu Jius bouncing adorably on her head.

Liu Xixi got her wish and led Ji Ze away, but because she was wearing stiletto heels, she sunk with every step on the grass lawn.

Forget about running to get the kite airborne – she was hard-pressed to walk even a few steps.

Ji Ze watched the kite that couldn’t take flight, feeling a touch of disappointment.

Liu Xixi bit her lip and turned to Ji Muye for help, pleading, “Aye, I can’t run anymore. Could you help me?”

The man’s gaze fell on his youngest son’s disappointed eyes and stepped forward to take the kite string from her hands.

Before long, the kite soared successfully into the sky.

Lu Xining and Ming Yuan also kicked off their shoes to join in the tent, starting a building block game with the two kids.

The latter eagerly suggested a competition.

“Ningning, I’m on Nuonuo’s team, and you two are on the other team. The losers will stick paper strips on their faces.”

The two little ones were also excited, gearing up for the challenge.

Half an hour passed.

All four of them had little paper strips on their faces.

Lu Nuonuo looked at the new yellow paper strip on her nose and couldn’t help blowing at it, her eyes filled with joy.

Laughter like silver bells spilled out of the tent, frequently drawing Ji Ze’s attention as he flew the kite.

Ji Muye’s gaze too fell on the tent several times.

Liu Xixi sat on a nearby chair, her expression gloomy. She had finally managed to secure his schedule today, and by being with the children, she had gotten to be so close to him, refusing to allow Lu Xining to mess it up.

With a vicious determination in her heart, she thought: Lu Xining, the Ji Family is mine, Ji Muye is mine too!

And as for your two sons, in the end, they’ll obediently call me mom!

She, Liu Xixi, was certain of her victory.

After playing for so long, the two little ones were becoming tired.

As the sun outside was no longer so harsh, Lu Xining took the children out of the tent, and Ji Chao, upon seeing his kindergarten classmates, went to play with them and Lu Nuonuo with Lu Xining’s permission.

Before leaving, he called for Ji Ze too.

Lu Xining’s gaze followed the children the whole time. Ming Yuan sat beside her and motioned for her to look at Liu Xixi.

She clicked her tongue and said, “Your ex-husband is quite a catch.”

Lu Xining glanced over indifferently and said dismissively, “I wish them all the happiness and for them to become a married couple.”

It would be best if they got together soon and had more children.

And not fight her for the children’s custody rights.

Ming Yuan was somewhat worried, “Ningning, are you really going to fight the Ji Family for the children? For so many years, the Ji Family has maintained its position as the leading family, and although your ex-husband is a jerk when it comes to relationships, his professional capacity is by no means lacking.”

If he wasn’t willing to let go, Lu Xining would have a hard time getting custody.

Looking at the azure sky, Lu Xining spoke with a lingering tone, “They’re my children, after all, I must at least fight for them.”

Since the moment she left the Ji Family, she had never given up on her two children, and she had been quietly building her own power these past two years.

Ming Yuan sighed, “If you need my help with anything, just let me know.”

During their conversation,

Lu Xining saw Liu Xixi walking towards where the children were playing and, worried that she might do something to the children, immediately followed.

As she drew near, she heard Liu Xixi chatting with other parents.

“Is Miss Liu and Mr. Ji’s good news coming soon?”

Liu Xixi feigned shyness and glanced at the man in the distance who was on the phone. In her peripheral view, she spotted Lu Xining approaching.

She raised her voice and said, “We’re close, we’ve already met the parents, and the children also like me a lot. Once Aye has more free time, the two families will discuss the marriage. You all should then come and have a drink at our wedding celebration.”

During their school days, Liu Xixi had always been infatuated with Ji Muye, but he was devoted to his studies and showed no interest in romantic relationships.

After graduation, he took over the Shi’an Group immediately. Then, unexpectedly, a child emerged from a secret marriage. Not only did he get married but he also had children.

However, fortunately for her, they got divorced!

Liu Xixi’s lips curled up in an arrogant smile. Even if she had once had Ji Muye’s body, what of it? After being a secret wife for five years, she still ended up divorced.

Lu Xining, seeing that Liu Xixi was continuously looking at her, rolled her eyes speechlessly.

Those who heard Liu Xixi were surprised.

In their circle, people got engaged first, spent some time together to ensure compatibility, and then went on to get formally married.

Liu Xixi gave Lu Xining a provocative look and continued, “Aye said his previous marriage was unhappy and put him through five years of mental and physical torture. He wants to marry me quickly to wash away the gloom from that marriage.”

Lu Xining’s steps faltered.

Unhappiness, torment, gloom…

Suddenly, it felt as if a blunt knife was being twisted painfully in her heart. Gritting her teeth, Lu Xining thought: That bastard!

The five years she had wholeheartedly dedicated to their life together and this was the only evaluation he had to offer.

“It seems Mr. Ji really detested his former wife, the one who was secretly married to him for five years. It’s hard to imagine what kind of woman she was.”

“I heard they had children in the second year of marriage. Initially, people thought he kept her hidden to protect her, but now it looks like he was forced into marrying a woman he didn’t love, which is probably why he was reluctant to show her in public.”

“That’s true, everybody knows that Miss Liu from the Liu Family was the only female companion Mr. Ji ever brought out in public. You can imagine her status.”

The whispering of the crowd didn’t escape Lu Xining’s ears.

Not wanting Ji Chao and Lu Nuonuo to suffer from people’s judgment, she no longer approached them, but Lu Nuonuo, seeing her, ran joyfully towards her.

“Mommy—”

Others also noticed Lu Xining, and they couldn’t help but gasp at her striking features and ethereal quality.

“Whose daughter is this? She’s incredibly beautiful!”

Liu Xixi lowered her gaze to hide the sullen look in her eyes. What good was Lu Xining’s beauty if she couldn’t win Ji Muye’s heart?

However, in the next second!

Ji Chao took her by surprise.