Accidentally Married to the Big Shot
Chapter 396: Being a Stepmother Is Hard (2)

Chapter 396: Chapter 396: Being a Stepmother Is Hard (2)

"Good riddance—who told her to come to our house and play stepmother?"

"Exactly, exactly."

Li Jiajia remained silent.

Back in her room, she stood on the balcony and lit a cigarette.

Downstairs, the sound of Cai Yingxue playing the piano drifted up. She was playing a song titled "Dream Mother," surely on purpose.

By evening, Cai Minjun came home.

The house finally became lively.

All three children rushed toward Cai Minjun, each more eager than the last.

Cai Yingxue said she’d learned a cheerful tune today called "Joyful Song" and planned to play it for Cai Minjun after dinner.

Cai Minjun praised her: "That’s right. At home, we should play joyful songs so everyone stays happy, am I right?"

Because Cai Yingxue often played songs that mourned her mother before, she’d been scolded by Cai Minjun several times.

"I understand, Dad," Cai Yingxue replied.

After speaking, she glanced at Li Jiajia with a trace of smugness, as if to say: See, I’m smart enough not to play those songs in front of Dad anymore—what do you think?

No matter what, Li Jiajia wouldn’t stoop to argue with a child.

In her eyes, Cai Yingxue’s actions were just juvenile.

At this moment, Cai Jinghui chimed in, "Dad, my sister and I learned plenty at home today too, even the tutor praised us."

The siblings took turns vying for credit, leaving Cai Minjun no choice but to humor them.

Cai Minjun, in his forties, had the look of an entrepreneur—his figure showed signs of age-induced plumpness, but his demeanor was decent enough.

He glanced at Li Jiajia, seemingly wanting to speak with her, but the kids clung to him relentlessly, leaving him no chance to escape.

Helpless, the only option was to have dinner first.

During dinner, every time Cai Minjun tried to communicate with Li Jiajia, the three children continuously vied for his affection.

Li Jiajia decided to bury her head in her meal.

After eating, she returned to her room, lying alone on the bed and scrolling through short videos.

It wasn’t until 10 p.m. that Cai Minjun finally came back.

By that time, Li Jiajia had already fallen asleep in bed.

Seeing the wedding photo on the bedside table, Cai Minjun sighed regretfully.

He was well aware of the awkwardness of Li Jiajia’s current situation. Yet, he couldn’t possibly abandon his children.

He was already incredibly busy, with limited time to spend with them. And after losing their mother, if his children were also left without their father’s company, how pitiful would that be?

Back then, when he pursued Li Jiajia, the children’s mother had already passed away three years prior. He liked Li Jiajia the moment he met her.

Such a bold, wild-spirited woman—he rarely came across someone like her.

...

The next morning, when Li Jiajia woke up, Cai Minjun had already risen.

They usually got up at 5 a.m., as Cai Minjun often said: "The morning hours determine the day’s success. Those who rise early already outrun half the world."

Finally, Cai Minjun found an opportunity to speak with Li Jiajia. "Jiajia, I’m sorry. I came to the room so late last night—you’re not upset with me, are you?"

Li Jiajia smiled lightly. "Why would I be upset with you? You’re their father, it’s only natural for you to spend more time with them."

"Thank you for understanding."

"It’s what I should do."

Then, Cai Minjun suggested: "Why don’t we go out for breakfast later? Just the two of us."

"As long as you’re free, I don’t mind," Li Jiajia replied nonchalantly.

"Alright, then it’s settled."

"..."

As the couple headed downstairs, the children’s aunt arrived.

This aunt was Cai Minjun’s elder sister from his first wife’s family. She was nearly 50, named Zhou Min. Every time Zhou Min saw Li Jiajia, her attitude was openly hostile.

Li Jiajia knew that this aunt went out of her way to instill ideas about "evil stepmothers" into the kids.

But there was nothing to be done. The children had lost their mother, and with Cai Minjun busy at work, he couldn’t bear to leave them entirely in the care of nannies. He insisted they needed a blood relative to watch over them.

It wasn’t just the aunt; the children’s maternal grandparents also visited occasionally.

Their paternal grandparents, on the other hand, came rarely. In this household, aside from herself, everyone else was related to the children.

No wonder the children wouldn’t accept her.

Zhou Min noticed the couple was about to leave and snidely remarked, "Heading out so early and just leaving the kids behind?"

Cai Minjun replied, "There’s work at the company—today I need to leave early."

Zhou Min sighed exaggeratedly. "I understand you’re busy, but the kids are still young. Wouldn’t it be better if you stayed and had breakfast with them? Otherwise, when they wake up and see Daddy isn’t home, they’ll be upset again."

"Then could I trouble you to explain to them, Big Sister? Just tell them I’m busy with work," Cai Minjun said.

Zhou Min shot another glare at Li Jiajia. "No matter how busy you are, surely there’s time for a quick breakfast with the kids? Lately, I’ve been watching a lot of videos—they show these businessmen managing tens of billions, yet they still make time to be with their children. Besides, Yingyue is at that sensitive adolescent stage right now, and the younger two are still small—they’re at an age where they need their father’s presence the most. You really ought to spend more time with them."

Cai Minjun glanced uneasily at Li Jiajia, who said calmly, "Let’s have breakfast at home and wait for the kids to join us."

Feeling guilty, Cai Minjun said to Li Jiajia, "Alright, we’ll eat at home today. We’ll have lunch together later, okay?"

Li Jiajia nodded—it didn’t matter to her either way.

Zhou Min went upstairs to wake the children.

She started with Cai Yingyue, calling urgently, "Xiao Yue, why are you still sleeping? If you don’t get up now, your dad’s going to leave!"

Cai Yingyue, still groggy, muttered impatiently, "If he wants to go, let him go."

"Oh, my dear! Don’t you understand? He’s planning to head out with that stepmother of yours—I just saw them getting cozy, as if they’re trying to build up some feelings. What if they get along too well and go have another baby boy together, huh?"

At this, Cai Yingyue instantly snapped awake.

Zhou Min continued, "I’ve told you all this many times. Dating is fine—they can even share a room—but absolutely no babies! If they have a baby boy, your inheritance shrinks. With a baby brother around, the three of you will no longer be Daddy’s precious darlings. Your dad’s already so busy—in splitting his time and attention with your baby brother, you’ll end up as kids without a proper mom or dad."

Immediately, Cai Yingyue got dressed.

"I’m going to stop them!"

"You hurry downstairs. I’ll wake your brother and sister," Zhou Min instructed.

Cai Yingyue had to get ready for school today anyway, so she quickly dressed, packed her backpack, and headed downstairs.

In the living room, the nanny had already set out breakfast on the table. Neither Cai Minjun nor Li Jiajia had touched their food.

Soon, Zhou Min brought down the children, purposefully announcing in a loud voice: "Look, kids—your dad is waiting for you! Hurry up and eat breakfast with him properly, because once Daddy heads off to work, you won’t see him for a while."

Since Cai Minjun was frequently away, traveling to attend press conferences and business conventions, he was seldom home.

The children, eager as ever, swarmed him, vying for his attention with various chatter.

Naturally, Li Jiajia turned invisible once again.

...

Finally, breakfast was done, and Li Jiajia and Cai Minjun got into their private car.