A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can’t Hold the Knife After Understanding Love

To restore Ji Tingzhou's health, relying solely on medication wouldn't suffice—especially since Ji Nian had been concocting poisons and antidotes. Administering them directly and then neutralizing the toxins would do nothing for his condition, much like eating spicy hotpot one day and passing it the next, offering no real benefit to the body.

Surgery was the only solution.

If it were just about medicine, Ji Nian could easily trick him into taking it. But when it came to surgery, no one could force him if he refused.

That night, Ji Nian exhausted the last of the suppressants she had prepared in Country O.

After much deliberation, she decided to talk to Ji Tingzhou.

A servant informed her he was fishing in the middle of the lake.

From a distance, she saw him bundled up tightly, lounging comfortably at the bow of the boat, reeling in fish one after another. She almost wondered if divers were underwater, hooking fish onto his line.

Arriving on another small boat, she poked at Ji Tingzhou, who lay lazily swathed in UV-protective gear.

Before he could react, she announced, "I didn't wash my hands."

Ji Tingzhou: "……"

Without waiting for a response, she continued, "I've finished the medicine."

"You should try living a little longer. Wei Yang only has you left as family now."

Ji Tingzhou shot her a glare. "Is that how you persuade people?"

Ji Nian simply replied, "Yep."

Though mentally regressed, Wei Yang recovered quickly after waking—eating heartily, full of energy, and clingy. He seemed to remember Ji Tingzhou's earlier words, even trying to climb into his bed at night with a pillow.

Ji Tingzhou kicked him out by the backside.

Wei Yang, aggrieved, tattled to Ji Nian the next day.

Despite having no memory of her, he felt an inexplicable familiarity and adored trailing after her.

"Live a little, won't you? I still owe you for the wine and clothes—consider it feeding chickens."

"Pretty please?" Ji Nian batted her eyes.

Ji Tingzhou stayed silent.

But that afternoon, he summoned the entire medical team.

When Ji Nian heard, she smiled.

She tidied up Zhiliao's resting place and placed a bouquet of roses at her grave.

"Don't worry, Sister Zhiliao. He'll live as long as a turtle."

The day after Ji Tingzhou's surgery, Ji Nian planted a tree named "Little Boat" in the garden. She carefully wrote its name on a wooden plaque and hung it from a branch.

Afterward, she went to see Ji Tingzhou—but he barred her entry.

Ji Nian giggled inwardly.

She knew why: he'd shaved his head for the surgery and had an image to uphold.

"Just letting you know—I'm heading to school to see Shen Qingtang."

A grunt of acknowledgment came from inside.

Satisfied, Ji Nian gathered her things and left.

When Shen Qingtang's grandparents learned they had a granddaughter, they intended to return to fetch her. But Grandma Shen, overwhelmed with excitement, ended up hospitalized.

So Shen Qingtang flew to them instead.

After discussions between the Shen and Ji families, Ji Tingzhou readily agreed to let her reclaim her roots.

Shen Qingtang joyfully told Ji Nian that once Grandma Shen recovered, they'd move back, and she'd reunite with her family—no longer staying with the Jis.

Ji Nian arrived at the school during lunch to deliver something Shen Qingtang had forgotten.

For this world's Shen Qingtang, the Ji household held more painful memories than fond ones, so she left without hesitation.

Ji Nian respected her choice and didn't interfere.

"Over here!"

Spotting Ji Nian, Shen Qingtang waved enthusiastically, showing the guard a pass from Gu Xiuyuan before ushering her inside.

The guard would never guess this bright-eyed girl with emerald-green irises was the same withdrawn, scar-faced student who'd dropped out.

Now doted on by family, Shen Qingtang glowed—her cheeks fuller, her spirits high.

"Ji Nian, won't you come back to school? Your enrollment's still active."

Ji Nian nodded. "Once things settle, I probably will."

Arm in arm, the two stood out effortlessly—both striking in looks and charm.

"Isn't that Shen Qingtang from Class 1? Who's that with her? A celebrity? She's gorgeous."

"Her ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‍curls are amazing—I wonder where she got them done."

"Hey, Mu Qing, isn't that your classmate? Do you know who that is?"

Mu Qing, returning from lunch, turned toward the commotion just as the curly-haired girl beside Shen Qingtang glanced over.

Mu Qing studied her hair, struck by déjà vu.

She thought of another naturally curly-haired person she knew—then shook her head.

Impossible. Their looks and vibes were worlds apart.

Little did she know, this was her closest brush with the truth.

Back in class, she found her peers in an uproar.

"Mu Qing! Guess who Shen Qingtang brought to campus?"

"Some friend, I guess. Never seen her before."

The classmate flushed with excitement. "It's Ji Nian! The 'ugly freak' who got expelled!!"

Mu Qing gaped. "Huh?!"

Then came the bombshell:

The beauty spotted with Shen Qingtang wasn't just their former scar-faced classmate—she was also the girl rumored to resemble Ji Tingzhou lately!

Skeptics scoffed. "No way! She must've had plastic surgery. Didn't the Jis disown her?"

"But she's literally… their biological daughter. How did we miss that?"

Mu Qing belatedly realized: "Wait… Ji Tingzhou's eyes are green too."

Why had something so obvious escaped them—just because Ji Nian once had a scar?