C4 I Am the Only One in Society

Zhang Zhe and Ms. Liu began serving the children's nutritious dinner to the kiddos. Ye Jianjia, having been out all day, was somewhat tired and simply watched from the sidelines.

The kiddos started with their milk, though a few weren't keen on drinking it right away, setting it aside and eagerly awaiting their meal.

Second had a particular fondness for milk, always the first to finish his bottle. Now, eyeing his big brother's half-finished bottle with longing, Second stealthily reached out his little hand to snatch it when big brother wasn't looking.

But the big brother turned around swiftly, his cool little face falling into a frown. With a quick grab of his chubby hand, he reclaimed his milk bottle and, without a word, downed the rest of his milk in front of Second.

"There! All done, so you can stop coveting it!" he seemed to say.

Ye Jianjia chuckled to herself, watching the scene unfold.

The big brother in society, strong and silent!

Later that night, after tucking the kiddos into bed, Zhang Zhe stepped out and noticed light still streaming from Ye Jianjia's room.

"Got a new gig?" he asked, aware she was in for another night of work. He headed to the kitchen to prepare a late-night snack for her.

Ye Jianjia nodded in confirmation. "It's that client Xiaoli introduced to us last month, right after we got back. She's getting married in a few months and wants a custom jewelry design from me."

She was only responsible for the design, which the client would then pass on to the chosen jeweler.

Zhang Zhe raised an eyebrow, "You mentioned that client was pretty tough, right?"

"She's made a lot of demands and isn't keen on communicating directly with me. But the design fee is in the six figures. If I can nail this job, the kiddos won't have to worry about running out of milk powder for the next year."

A six-figure income that only covered a year's supply of milk powder for the kiddos was indeed daunting, but not an exaggeration in the slightest.

While most families only need to purchase a few cans of formula each month, her household was a different story with six little ones. Breastmilk was merely a treat for them; they were primarily nourished by formula. Before the kiddos began eating solid foods, they could easily go through a can of formula in just one day.

Now that the kiddos were eating solid food, they had grown, and their appetites had expanded accordingly. A single can of formula was just enough to last a day.

Over the past few years, Ye Jianjia had juggled work with her studies. She pursued her passion for jewelry design for the kiddos and even took on jobs like dishwashing. Eventually, through a friend's recommendation, she tried her hand at modeling and acting. No matter the job, if it meant earning extra money, she would work tirelessly, sometimes going without sleep for two or three days straight.

Zhang Zhe let out a soft sigh, "I hate to see you shouldering the burden of providing for the family all by yourself, but there's not much else I can do to help..."

"Ah, Auntie..." Ye Jianjia finished her noodles, set down her bowl, and reached out to embrace Zhang Zhe. "Please, don't talk like that. You've been a huge help by taking care of the kiddos every day! You've worked so hard these past years. Once I start making good money and the kiddos are grown, we'll take care of you together!"

Zhang Zhe smiled in response, "I don't need anything in return. As long as you're all doing well, that's enough to make your mother proud."

She had been a domestic helper in Ye Jianjia's maternal grandfather's home and had been assisted by Jianjia's mother in earlier years. After her own family passed away prematurely, leaving her alone, she eventually accompanied Jianjia abroad. Over the years, they had come to share a bond akin to that of mother and daughter.

"My mom is watching over us from heaven, so there's no need for you to worry. Go on, head to bed," encouraged Ye Jianjia, gently ushering her out of the room.

Zhang Zhe reminded her, "Make sure you get some rest too."

"Will do." Ye Jianjia replied with a smile, then closed the door behind her. As she did, her phone on the table began to ring. She walked over and picked it up, the word "Dad" glaring back at her, causing the smile on her lips to slowly stiffen.

Over the past five years, the Ye family had severed all ties with her, never once reaching out.

Why was the old man suddenly seeking her out now?