Reborn in the 80s, Get Rich by Eating Melons-Chapter 696: Are You My Mommy’s Friend?

Tong Yue looked at Yu Shiya, someone she didn’t recognise, yet intuitively disliked Yu Shiya. Why she disliked her, she couldn’t explicitly say, but she just didn’t like her.

There was something odd about the way this woman looked at her.

Si Yang also turned to Yu Shiya. Like Tong Yue, he didn’t like her. This dislike was based on an indescribable instinct. He felt that this woman bore hostility towards him.

Before Tong Yao could speak, Yu Shiya smilingly said, "You can call me Auntie Yu. I held you when you were a little girl. Even then, I thought you looked just like your mother. Now, you look even more like her."

Luckily back then, Tong Yue wasn’t under her care, or she might have wanted to kill her.

Even though there was a smile on Yu Shiya’s face, Tong Yue couldn’t shake off a sense of discomfort from it, "Are you my mom’s friend?"

Yu Shiya shook her head, with a slight smile, "I knew your mom, but we weren’t friends. I knew your dad better, we used to be colleagues..."

Tong Yao interrupted Yu Shiya, "She was once in love with your father."

Upon hearing this, the mild expressions on Tong Yue and Si Yang’s faces immediately became serious, as their gaze fixed on Yu Shiya.

Especially Tong Yue, with a deep scowl, she blurted out, "So, you are my mother’s rival, huh! My brother and I don’t like you."

Yu Shiya looked surprised at Tong Yao, "Would you even tell the kids about this ancient history?"

Tong Yao boldly retorted, "You aren’t here just to simply check in on us, are you?".

Tong Yao never believed in shielding children from adult matters, such as her dispute with Yu Shiya. She wanted to alert her children, so they’d know not to trust Yu Shiya if they were ever to cross paths unofficially in the future. This could minimise potential harm.

It was always better to be suspicious and prepared since you can’t see the heart through the belly.

Yu Shiya said, "Tong Yao, you’re overreacting. My visit was indeed out of pure goodwill. If I had an ulterior motive, it was probably just to see Tong Yue."

With that, she once again directed her gaze to Tong Yue. "I’ve always disliked children, but Tong Yue and I had a connection years ago, so I wanted to see how she had grown up. Today is Han Enzhen’s first month celebration, I don’t want to start trouble with you, and I’m sure you don’t want to cause trouble on this occasion either, right?"

Five years is neither long nor short. The girly appearance Yu Shiya once had has since faded, replaced now by the air of a shrewd businesswoman.

Tong Yao laughed lightly in response, "Your curiosity is satisfied now, please return to your seat!"

Yu Shiya once again let her gaze linger on Tong Yue for a few seconds, before she returned to her seat.

After she left, Guo Miaomiao asked in wonder, "Sister Yaoyao, what does Yu Shiya mean by that? Was she really just here to greet you?"

Tong Yao shook her head, "I’m unsure myself, best to ignore her."

Tong Yao did not take Yu Shiya seriously. There had only been one chance encounter in five years of living in Kyoto.

However, Tong Yue was full of curiosity, "Mommy, since you and she are rivals, why did you let her hold me back then?"

Tong Yao gave her a gentle pat on the head, explaining, "It’s a long story. Back when you were born, someone stole you. Thankfully, I found out in time, and was able to find you. The person who stole you was connected to her, you could’ve almost ended up being her daughter."

That said, Tong Yue looked so much like her, even if Yu Shiya had run off with her, she’d have been able to recognise her at a glance. This was her daughter.

Tong Yue looked surprised and curious, "Why did she steal me, why not my brother? My brother is smarter and has better grades than me."

Si Yang rolled his eyes, "I was only a newborn at the time, how could she have known who was more intelligent?"

The conversation between the two caused Tong Yao to laugh, she explained, "You were a bit stronger physically at the time, and she could have used your illness as an excuse. If your brother had been missing, it would have been suspicious. But no matter what she did, I didn’t believe that you were gone and I found you."

Tong Yue hugged Tong Yao and pouted, "Mommy, I’m so glad you found me. I don’t want to be someone else’s daughter, I love you and daddy, and I love my brother."

Tong Yao ruffled her hair, "I love you all too."

Yu Shiya, who was sitting in her seat, looked back. Seeing the joyful smiles on Tong Yao and the children’s faces, her smile began to fade.

It’s been five years, she and Si Jun didn’t divorce but they don’t have children. Each time she returned to Li City, her in-laws would persuade her to go through with the divorce, even kneeling at her feet once to beg her.

Yu Shiya did contemplate divorce. Considering that she couldn’t have children, and that it was Si Jun’s responsibility too, she felt it unfair that she alone had to bear the consequences, while Si Jun could remarry and live happily with his own kid. The thought of her living childless and marriageless, in misery, was unbearable.

So, she decided not to end her marriage, and Si Jun, seemingly out of guilt, had never brought up divorce either. That’s how they spent the last five years. Occasionally Si Jun would come to visit her in Kyoto, as they aged, they didn’t fight as much. Disguising as a married couple, they behaved more like old friends – chatting, catching up over coffee.

Living such tranquil life and growing her business substantially over the last two years, she opened over a dozen franchises in Kyoto and a few in Li City. Currently looking for franchisees, she planned to have her tea shop franchises in other cities too.

The only thing Yu Shiya felt elated about in the last five years was the decline of Tong Yao’s tea shops. In Yu Shiya’s view, this was a testament to her superior abilities.

She was the winner.

With this in mind, she directed her gaze to Tong Yue again. Yu Shiya had never liked children, so she was okay with not having any. She was living decently anyway.

But seeing Tong Yue brought back memories of when she was an infant, evoking feelings she could not express.

Perhaps Tong Yue noticed Yu Shiya’s gaze, she seemed somewhat puzzled, "Mommy, why does Yu Shiya keep stealing glances at me?"

Tong Yao moved her stool to block Yu Shiya’s line of vision and giggled, "Now, she can’t see you. Don’t give her your attention."

Yu Shiya’s gaze at Tong Yue did not seem hostile, it could be that the motherly instincts had been awakened after meeting Tong Yue five years ago.