Chapter 4: Take the Female Lead’s Path and Leave Her No Way to Go
Wen Yao decisively gave up on the meat buns and exchanged her points for five steamed buns and two bags of pickled vegetables.
Ugh, even pickled vegetables cost 2.5 coins now—what a rip-off.
By the time she came out, Wen Jun and Wen Xiuyi had nearly finished tidying up. The kitchen was completely unusable, and even the stove had a huge hole smashed into it by fallen beams. Fortunately, the pot on top was still intact, and the bowls and chopsticks, though dusty, could be cleaned up and reused.
She called the two of them into the room, where a steaming pile of five large buns and two bags of pickled vegetables sat on the table.
Wen Xiuyi grabbed one and took a big bite.
“This space even has food?” He ate without hesitation, not the least bit concerned about poison or anything like that.
Wen Yao quickly explained the situation with the space while also venting her frustration. “Tell me this isn’t daylight robbery—the female lead’s prices matched ancient market rates, but now that the space belongs to us, everything’s priced at modern rates.”
Wen Jun split a bun, stuffed some pickled vegetables inside, and handed it to Wen Yao. “With this space, life should be much easier for us.”
Wen Yao agreed. The selection inside was actually pretty good.
Wen Xiuyi, however, warned, “Even though the space is useful, we can’t rely on it too much. Who knows what might happen in the future? What if the moment the female lead is born, the space suddenly shifts back to her? We need to prepare for all possibilities and establish ourselves here on our own.”
“Dad’s right,” Wen Jun nodded.
Wen Yao chewed on her bun. When a person is hungry, even plain food tastes amazing. After swallowing, she nodded and said, “Bro, I know. Oh, by the way, from now on, we have to change the way we address Dad. We can’t call him ‘Dad’ anymore. Here, we have to say ‘Father.’”
“Got it.”
The three of them finished four buns, leaving the last one for Datou.
As for their future villainous second male lead of a little brother, all three agreed they couldn’t let him walk the same path as before.
“Since we have the space now, let’s take the female lead’s path ourselves and leave her with nothing,” Wen Yao declared. That way, once the female lead grew up, she wouldn’t have a chance to ruin their little brother’s life.
This suggestion won immediate and unanimous support from both Wen Xiuyi and Wen Jun.
After finishing their meal, they placed the empty packaging into the space’s recycling bin. Then, the three of them prepared to head to the old family home to pick up Datou.
“How about you two go? I’ll stay here,” Wen Xiuyi suggested with an awkward smile.
But Wen Yao wasn’t about to let him off the hook so easily. “Father, you caused this mess. Now that we’re changing things, the old family needs to see your sincerity. Hiding at home—what kind of hero does that?”
Wen Xiuyi immediately protested, “I didn’t do any of this! Daughter, don’t pin this on me—I refuse to take the blame!”
The siblings simply looked at him with amused expressions.
You took over his body—if you don’t take the blame, then who will?
“Fine, fine, I’ll go. Let’s get this over with.” With that, Wen Xiuyi took the lead and walked out the door.
The siblings exchanged glances and couldn’t help but chuckle before quickly following after him.
When the three of them arrived at the old family home, preparations for dinner were underway inside. They nudged each other for a bit before Wen Yao stepped forward and knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” A strong, clear female voice called out. Wen Yao immediately recognized it as her second aunt, Li Shi.
“Aunt Li, it’s me. We’ve come to pick up Datou.” Wen Yao called back.
For a moment, the courtyard fell silent. Then came the sounds of hurried movements—clattering, rustling, the shuffle of footsteps. Only after the noise subsided did Li Shi finally open the courtyard door.
“Oh, Yao Yao. Oh… and big brother’s here too.” The moment Li Shi saw Wen Xiuyi, her expression visibly darkened, filled with impatience and displeasure.
What else could Wen Xiuyi do? He had to take responsibility for the original owner’s mess.
“Yes, sister-in-law. We’ve come to pick up Datou,” Wen Xiuyi said awkwardly.
Li Shi hesitated, debating whether or not to let them inside, when suddenly, another voice rang out from deeper in the courtyard.
“Li Shi, just grab a pancake for Datou and send him out. The ones outside don’t need to come in.”
That voice belonged to Luo Shi, Wen Xiuyi’s mother.
The three people standing outside the gate felt an overwhelming sense of awkwardness. Wen Xiuyi, in particular, felt his face burn with shame. Just how much trouble had the original owner caused for him to be barred from even stepping inside his own parents’ house?
Well, it was going to be unpleasant either way. Since they were already here, he might as well get it over with.
Bracing himself, Wen Xiuyi took a deep breath and called out toward the courtyard, “Father, Mother, I’ve come to admit my mistakes.”
Wen Yao raised an eyebrow and secretly gave him a thumbs-up.
Inside the courtyard, Luo Shi was clearly taken aback by this, but she quickly recovered. Her voice was as cold as ever. “Don’t bother with that nonsense. We don’t even have enough to feed ourselves, let alone take care of you.”
Clearly, she thought they had come to freeload off the family.
Li Shi, now even more wary, blocked the door firmly.
A moment later, Datou was shoved out from inside, holding half a pancake in his tiny hands.
One small child, staring up at three grown-ups.
“Li Shi, close the door,” Luo Shi ordered mercilessly.
Without a second thought, Li Shi promptly slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
The three of them stood outside, speechless. Repairing their relationship with the old family was going to be an uphill battle.
Datou continued staring at them with his big, round eyes.
“I told you I shouldn’t have come,” Wen Xiuyi muttered under his breath. But when he met his youngest son’s gaze—so clear and innocent—something inside him softened.
The thought that this sweet little child was doomed to become a disposable stepping stone for others made Wen Xiuyi feel sick. No way. My son will never be anyone’s pawn.
“Datou, let’s go home with Father.” Wen Xiuyi reached out his hand.
Then, Wen Yao noticed that Datou was looking at Wen Xiuyi with the same confused, curious, and slightly unfamiliar expression he had given her earlier that morning.
Crap. According to the novel, this kid was sharp. Had he figured something out already?
But to their surprise, Datou quietly reached out his tiny hand and took Wen Xiuyi’s.
That small, warm hand nestled in his palm instantly melted Wen Xiuyi’s heart. If this adorable child asked for the moon, Wen Xiuyi would probably build a ladder to fetch it for him.
He didn’t care what the original owner had done—starting today, these three children were his, and he wouldn’t let them walk the same tragic paths as before.
As they walked home, Datou kept sneaking glances at Wen Xiuyi, then down at their joined hands, then back at Wen Xiuyi again.
When they arrived, Datou paused, staring at the collapsed portion of the house. A flash of sadness flickered through his eyes.
Wen Yao caught the expression and quickly reassured him with a smile. “It’s fine! Now we have an excuse to build an even bigger house once we save up enough money. Sound good?”
Datou stared at her face for a long moment. Just when Wen Yao started to worry that he’d see right through her, he finally gave a soft, adorable nod.
Wen Yao let out a breath of relief.
Knowing what kind of ruthless strategist he would become in the future, she couldn’t help feeling a little on edge around him.
But for now, Wen Zhao was just a nearly four-year-old child—an innocent blank slate. As long as they guided him well and showered him with love, Wen Yao firmly believed he wouldn’t turn into the person he had been in the novel.
