Supper Baby

005 The Adopted Daughter's Overture

Next morning , breakfast.

Tan Mo wheeled herself slowly into the dining room.

Before she arrived, she could hear the voices of two people inside.

Tan Qi was in high spirits, spreading butter on her bread with a knife. "Some people, obviously impostors, have taken someone else's place for so many years. Now that the real one is back, the fake will eventually be exposed for what they are."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word reached the ears of Tan Rou, who was sitting beside her.

Tan Rou continued eating her bread as if nothing had happened, not wanting to argue.

She understood clearly that back then, the Tan family had adopted her and pretended she was Wang Chuyan's biological daughter to help treat Wang Chuyan's postpartum depression.

Later, after Wang Chuyan passed away and Xu Piao became the new Madam Tan, this matter had become an open secret within the family.

Tan Qi constantly used this matter to provoke her, warning her not to compete for their grandfather's favor—and after Tan Mo's return, she had only become more relentless.

She had tried her best to be an obedient child, yet all she received in return was mockery after mockery. She had had enough.

Seeing the gloom in Tan Rou's eyes only emboldened Tan Qi further.

"Grandfather dotes on her so much. I suggest you tread carefully around her—one word from her, and Grandfather might just kick you, the fake daughter, out of this house."

Tan Qi's words grew more and more excessive; even Tan Mo, listening from outside, found them grating.

This third sister had truly gone too far.

Relying on her status as a biological daughter of the Tan family, she freely bullied her adoptive sister, who shared no blood ties with her.

Even though Tan Rou was an adopted daughter, at least she seemed to know her place—much more agreeable than this arrogant, haughty one.

"Birds of a feather—a sparrow may perch on a high branch, but it's still just a sparrow." Tan Qi continued fanning the flames.

Ever since she was little, what she enjoyed most was seeing Tan Rou humiliated—clearly seething inside, yet unable to vent even the slightest bit.

"Birds of a feather—some people are so busy mocking others for perching on high branches that they completely forget they might be sparrows who've done the same." The person in the wheelchair delivered these words slowly.

Tan Qi's expression immediately soured.

Her age difference from her sister Tan Mo was only eight months—a gap worth pondering, worth scrutinizing.

Whether she was a premature birth or a full-term illegitimate daughter.

With just one sentence, Tan Mo had struck a nerve.

"What did you say?"

Tan Mo calmly laid out her point. "I'm just reminding you—we're sisters. There's no need to be so harsh."

"You! Are you trying to defend that outsider?" Tan Qi's voice suddenly turned shrill. "She's an orphan with no parents. Our family took pity on her and gave her this life of luxury. What's wrong with me scolding her a little?"

Tan Mo said nothing. She simply raised her phone and pressed play on the latest audio recording.

Tan Qi's sharp, venomous voice from moments ago emanated from the phone, startling Tan Rou nearby.

"If you keep this up, I'll hand this recording to Grandfather. Then we'll let him decide who's right and who's wrong. Enjoy your breakfast." Tan Mo wheeled herself away from the dining room.

Tan Rou watched her leave, head bowed in silence, as if lost in thought.

"Tan Mo!" Tan Qi's piercing voice traveled from the dining room to the living room.

Tan Mo could hear it even from outside.

Having already provoked Tan Qi—who only had the nerve to bully those within the family—it probably wasn't a good idea to sit through breakfast with her.

Sure, she'd be hungry all morning, but at least Tan Qi would be fuming for the entire day. Not a bad trade-off.

Back upstairs, Tan Mo opened her computer.

She pulled up a movie to pass the time.

The film was called *Delicate Willow*. It told the story of a village girl named Jiao Liu who, through education, left the mountains to study in the city and eventually returned to her hometown to help rebuild it.

A simple story, but the screenwriting was solid. The actress who played Jiao Liu, Meng Jue, even won Best Actress for her role—it was a critically acclaimed film with rave reviews.

A tray appeared beside her, piled with still-warm nut cookies.

The person holding the tray was Tan Rou.

"I'm pretty good at baking. Give them a try." She set the hot cocoa from the tray onto the table.

Tan Mo was a little surprised.

Had this sister brought her cookies as a thank-you for standing up to Tan Qi at breakfast?

"Okay." She picked one up and took a bite.

As always, she couldn't taste anything—only the crisp texture. Probably because of the nuts, the mouthfeel was quite distinctive.

"Delicious." She pretended it tasted good and swallowed.

She wouldn't tell anyone she'd lost her sense of taste.

Watching a movie with cookies in hand—it was quite pleasant.

Tan Rou sat beside her, quietly accompanying her through the entire film, even dabbing away a few tears during the c****x.

"Why are you still here?" Tan Mo pretended to be puzzled.

"I... can't I be a fan of Jue?" Tan Rou retorted stubbornly.

The excuse was weak, but Tan Mo didn't call her out on it. Resting her elbows on the wheelchair and cupping her cheeks in her hands, she smiled. "Then how about we find another Jue's movie tomorrow?"

Tan Rou hadn't expected that just a few baked cookies and watching a movie together would make Tan Mo warm up to her so quickly.

Was this little sister really that easy to win over?

"Of course—but only if you bring the same nut cookies as today."

Ah, so it wasn't that easy after all!

"Hope you get fatter," Tan Rou muttered under her breath as she picked up the tray and left the room.

Just as she reached the second-floor hallway, she saw Grandfather coming up the stairs with Uncle Wang.

"Grandfather." She bowed her head respectfully.

Old Master Tan smiled warmly. "It seems Rou is getting along well with Mo Mo?"

"Mm." Tan Rou kept her head down.

"Have you decided which university you want to attend?" the old man inquired.

Tan Rou's college entrance exam scores were excellent—she had a shot at any of the top ten universities in the country. She worked hard and was well-behaved, and Old Master Tan appreciated her diligence. Though not his biological granddaughter, he treated her as such.

When it came to her college application, Tan Rou had already made up her mind. "Medical University. I want to study medicine."

Grandfather had always taken good care of her, and she wanted to learn well so she could take care of him in return.

"Perfect timing. I'm going to Beijing in a few days to visit some friends. You can come with me and familiarize yourself with the environment."

Tan Rou was surprised.

Just three days ago, after much coaxing from Tan Qi, Grandfather had agreed to take her to Beijing.

Why had he suddenly changed his mind?

Tan Zhensheng said nothing, only gently patted his adopted granddaughter on the head.