Becoming the Biological Mother of a Three-Year-Old Villain

Xue Huiyu, a celebrated principal ballet dancer, dies in a car accident on January 18, 2018, at the age of twenty-four. She had been forced into a business marriage with Pei Wenyu, a wealthy heir from the prestigious Pei family, after her father blacklisted her ballet troupe to secure a political alliance. Their marriage was governed by a strict premarital agreement: separate bedrooms for six months, no interference in each other’s lives, and mutual respect without affection. However, Xue Huiyu unexpectedly became pregnant before a major performance. When the pregnancy was leaked to the public by paparazzi, she was forced to continue the pregnancy despite her resentment toward the child and her husband. She blamed Pei Wenyu for the leak, believing he had broken their agreement. After giving birth to a son, Pei Yuqi, her postpartum depression worsened. Her body never recovered to its pre-pregnancy state, ending her ballet career, while her rival Meng Yuwei took her place on stage. Consumed by jealousy and bitterness, Xue Huiyu neglected her son, leaving his care entirely to Pei Wenyu and the household staff. On the day of the accident, Pei Wenyu had tried to coax her into seeing a psychologist for her mental health, but she refused. En route to a planned outing, their car was struck by a truck driven by a fatigued and overloaded driver. Xue Huiyu was thrown from the vehicle and fell into the freezing river, where she drowned. Pei Wenyu survived but lost the use of his legs, becoming permanently disabled.

Three years later, Xue Huiyu awakens as a ghost at the crash site. She discovers she cannot reincarnate and remains tethered to the physical world. Confused and initially detached, she realizes she has no lingering attachments to her past life, which was filled with resentment and regret. However, her perspective shifts when she decides to visit her former home. She finds the house redecorated in cold, oppressive black and white tones, a stark contrast to the warm colors she once loved. Inside, she discovers her son, Pei Yuqi, living in squalor. The three-and-a-half-year-old boy is pale, thin, and withdrawn, exhibiting signs of severe trauma. He is being cared for by Zheng Huiwen, a nanny Xue Huiyu had previously trusted. Zheng Huiwen is abusive, physically punishing the child, drugging him with sedatives to keep him quiet, and stealing from the household. Xue Huiyu is horrified to learn that her son is being neglected and abused while Pei Wenyu, who appears frail and emotionally broken, works from his study, seemingly indifferent to his son’s suffering. Xue Huiyu’s initial anger toward Pei Wenyu for his perceived neglect is tempered when she witnesses his own pain; he suffers from severe insomnia and nightmares about the accident, smoking heavily to cope with his guilt and grief.

The core conflict emerges as Xue Huiyu, now a spirit, seeks to protect her son. She discovers that Pei Yuqi is the only one who can see and hear her. Initially terrified of her ghostly appearance, the boy gradually warms to her presence. Xue Huiyu begins to intervene in his daily life, reading him fairy tales, correcting his bad habits like nail-biting, and encouraging him to eat properly. Her presence seems to have a calming effect on Pei Yuqi, who begins to show signs of improvement. However, Xue Huiyu also uncovers a darker conspiracy. She overhears Zheng Huiwen communicating with her stepmother, Xia Lanzhi, and her half-brother, Xue Hongjun. It is revealed that Zheng Huiwen has been colluding with them, possibly contributing to Pei Yuqi’s developmental issues through abuse and drugging, in an effort to disqualify him from inheriting the Xue family fortune. Xue Hongjun is in deep debt due to financial fraud and hopes to seize Xue Huiyu’s inheritance to cover his losses. Meanwhile, Pei Wenyu is engaged in a silent power struggle within the Pei family. His cousin, Pei Yongyu, orchestrated the car accident that disabled him and killed Xue Huiyu, aiming to eliminate him as a rival for the family throne. Pei Yongyu has been accumulating shares and preparing to take over the Pei Group. However, Pei Wenyu has been secretly gathering evidence against Pei Yongyu’s tax evasion and corruption. In a decisive move, Pei Wenyu leaks the scandal to the media, causing Pei Yongyu’s stock holdings to plummet and leading to his arrest. This maneuver allows Pei Wenyu to regain control and position himself as the rightful heir.

As the story progresses, Xue Huiyu realizes that her lingering presence is not accidental. She suspects that her attachment to her son is the reason she has not moved on. Her goal shifts from merely observing to actively ensuring the safety and well-being of her family. She works to expose Zheng Huiwen’s abuse and protect Pei Yuqi from further harm. Pei Wenyu, unaware of Xue Huiyu’s ghostly presence, begins to notice changes in his son’s behavior. Pei Yuqi becomes more responsive and less fearful, leading Pei Wenyu to question his own parenting and the care provided by the nanny. The narrative explores the healing of a broken family, with Xue Huiyu’s spirit serving as a guiding force. She confronts her past regrets, acknowledging her role in her son’s trauma due to her postpartum depression. The story sets the stage for a resolution where Xue Huiyu may find a way to return to the living, or at least find peace, while Pei Wenyu and Pei Yuqi rebuild their lives together. The underlying themes involve redemption, the impact of mental health struggles, and the enduring bond between mother and child, even beyond death.