USWHC -Chapter 45 The Ungrateful Wretch Who Can’t Be Raised (Part 5)

Zhu Jie was lazily hiding under the quilt when Ji Yi walked in with a frown on his face. In his hand was a plate with two sweet potatoes on it.

“Didn’t you eat enough?” Zhu Jie asked lazily.

Ji Yi glanced down at the sweet potatoes and said indifferently, “Mother told me to bring these to you.”

“For me? But I’m already full!” Zhu Jie said in surprise as she took the plate. The sweet potatoes were still warm and looked quite sweet.

Ji Yi had just turned to leave when Zhu Jie suddenly held the plate out to him without hesitation.

“I noticed you didn’t eat much earlier. You’re probably not full, right? You should eat these instead!”

Ji Yi was slightly taken aback. Seeing the sincerity on her face only made his frown deepen.

“Why?” he asked.

“Why not?” Zhu Jie said with a smile. “Aren’t I your wife now? If I’m your wife for a day, then I’ll care for my husband for a day. Your mother may treat you harshly, but I can’t do that.”

“My mother doesn’t treat me harshly,” Ji Yi said calmly.

Seeing his reaction, Zhu Jie sighed with exaggerated pity.

“Well, I suppose a son never thinks his mother is ugly. But I’m curious… are you really your mother’s biological son?”

She said it teasingly, but Ji Yi immediately looked displeased.

“I’m not trying to sow discord,” Zhu Jie quickly added. “It’s just that your mother really treats you too poorly. I’ve only been here a few days, but even I can see it. Look at Ji Mei’s clothes—such good fabric and craftsmanship. You can tell she’s been pampered. Even the clothes she handed down to me don’t have any patches, which means she still has plenty of new ones.”

“And although your older brother’s clothes aren’t made from particularly good material, at least none of them have patches. But you? You can’t even find a single piece of clothing without patches!”

As she spoke, Zhu Jie glanced toward the chest where Ji Yi kept his clothes.

Ji Yi’s face instantly turned cold.

“You went through my things?”

“No,” Zhu Jie replied matter-of-factly. “I just opened the chest while putting my clothes away. And honestly, I think your mother treats me better than she treats you. Look—there were two extra sweet potatoes, and she thought to give them to me instead of you. Are you sure you weren’t adopted?”

“The second son in a family is usually treated like that,” Ji Yi said flatly.

“Then I’ll dote on you from now on!” Zhu Jie said with a grin.

Ji Yi didn’t look pleased at all. Instead, he became wary.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“Because you saved me.”

Zhu Jie answered naturally, but Ji Yi only snorted.

“You’re not the type to repay kindness.”

Zhu Jie looked disappointed. This guy was really too guarded.

She sighed and said, “Fine, then just think of it as me trying to curry favor with you. I want to live comfortably while I’m staying here for the next few days. Is that good enough?”

That answer actually sounded more believable to Ji Yi than the earlier one about a wife caring for her husband.

“Suit yourself,” he said somewhat awkwardly.

Zhu Jie smiled again and raised the sweet potatoes in front of him.

“Then let me offer borrowed flowers to Buddha and please you first. Do you want to eat?”

“You really won’t eat any?” Ji Yi asked in surprise.

Zhu Jie simply picked up one of the sweet potatoes and stuffed it straight into his mouth.

“Eat. I could tell you weren’t full.”

Ji Yi didn’t refuse. He swallowed the sweet potato in a few bites.

Seeing his awkward expression, Zhu Jie couldn’t help laughing.

Her smile was truly sweet—sweeter than the sweet potatoes. It was also sincere. Yet seeing it only made Ji Yi’s brows knit tighter.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment before suddenly saying coldly, “You have a jade hairpin?”

Zhu Jie was startled by the sudden question.

“How did you know?”

“That hairpin must be worth quite a bit, right?” Ji Yi continued coldly. “Why didn’t you sell it? Why insist on keeping it?”

There was a trace of anger in his gaze as he watched her.

He saw the expression on her face change in an instant. He saw her force herself to remain calm—but the faint flicker of panic in her eyes was enough for him to be certain.

She really did have a jade hairpin. Sister-in-law You hadn’t been mistaken.

“What exactly are you planning?” Ji Yi’s tone had turned hostile, as if he might make a move against her at any moment.