Chapter 2
Five years later, in Buscen City's train station, Willow carried many bags on her slender shoulders as she hurried forward.
Behind her trailed four adorable little children, each wobbling like tiny penguins. These children were very cute, drawing a lot of attention from onlookers.
Willow's mother, Lara, complained and muttered, "I'm following you around, exhausted and busy all the time. I have no idea when this will end. You're even more productive than a mother pig that's been made to breed. You had four in one go. I'm stuck looking after the kids every day, and I don't even have time to play cards. Look at my clothes. They're torn and worn out. Who wears patched-up clothes these days?"
Five years ago, if the mother pig they were raising was still alive and gave birth, it wouldn't have been able to produce this many piglets.
Willow, bearing a stack of luggage, was panting from exhaustion. She replied, "Mom, you've been working hard. Once I earn enough money, I'll buy you new clothes."
This time, Willow returned to Buscen City to find a higher-paying job. Taking care of four children was no easy task.
Five years ago, after her virginity was taken by a man, she had intended to use the jade pendant to find him. However, the old house suddenly collapsed, and she had been standing beneath the hole in the roof, miraculously escaping unharmed.
Three months later, she discovered she was pregnant.
Her life turned bleak. She had wanted to find that man and hold him accountable for his actions.
However, the jade pendant he had left behind was crushed beneath the rubble and turned into powder. She had searched for a long time but found nothing.
Without a token and with no clear memory of the man's appearance, identifying him was an impossible task.
At that time, she was overwhelmed with sadness. She had thought about abortion. But life was at stake, and she ultimately couldn't go through with it. She dropped out of school and returned home to give birth.
Later, with the birth of four adorable little babies, her life, though tiring, became colorful. She abandoned the idea of finding that man.
Without an education, making money was extremely challenging in the competitive and bustling city of Buscen City.
Lara's expression turned sour. "You can't even afford formula for the kids. Where are you going to get money to buy things for me? Look at me. Now I have to take care of four kids and carry luggage. It's exhausting!"
"Grandma, let me carry your bag."
Suddenly, a young voice chimed in. The little one reached up and took the bottles Lara was carrying on her back.
The little boy's name was Tristan. He had handsome features, and his small face was a mix of coolness and cuteness. He often appeared aloof but was incredibly considerate at critical moments.
The bag he took contained water for the four little children to drink. He took the bottles and distributed one to each sibling. This way, he lightened his grandmother's load.
"Grandma, you've worked hard. I'll give you a back massage when we get home," Julian said warmly.
The little fellow was exquisitely handsome, with sharp eyes and fair skin. He looked so pretty he could be mistaken for a girl.
"Grandma, I'll prepare a foot bath for you to soak your feet," Hailey said while blinking her large, dark eyes rapidly. Her thick, long eyelashes and chubby cheeks made her incredibly cute, like a doll.
"Grandma, I'll cook for you," Lilith's bright and clear eyes, peeking out from beneath her cap, exuded a cool and chic vibe.
Walking alongside Lara, the four little children's sweet and tender voices filled the air.
Listening to them, Willow felt her heart mel. Suddenly, all her fatigue vanished, leaving her with boundless energy and determination.
Her four children were named Tristan, Julian, Hailey, and Lilith. They were a harmonious family and were always looking out for each other.
Over the years, no matter how tired she was, her children's innocent and romantic smiles always swept away her weariness.
The children's innocent words caught the attention of passersby at the train station. People turned their curious and joyful gazes toward them.
"The kids take turns giving their grandma massages, foot baths, and even handle the cooking, making their grandma live a life of luxury. Ma'am, you're really fortunate," a passerby envied Lara.
"These kids are so good-looking. It's hard to believe that parents could produce such beautiful and capable little ones," a woman who exuded an air of intellectuality praised with a smile.
Everyone praised the four little ones nonstop.
Lara, who had initially harbored resentment, heard these comments and suddenly couldn't stop smiling, repeatedly saying to the passersby, "I'm their grandma. They're all my daughter's children, and they're quadruplets, you know."
In her words, there was a hint of pride and satisfaction, as if she was afraid that others wouldn't know that these adorable children were born to her daughter.
"These kids are like little bundles of joy sent by God to save us. They're all sweet and well-behaved and so respectful," Lara spoke tirelessly to the gathered crowd.
Willow didn't mind the attention. Lara had finally opened up and seemed happy, and Willow didn't want to bother her.
After several turns on the road, they finally reached their residence. For these years, Willow had been renting a house in Buscen City because the wages here were higher compared to other places. Her mother, Lara, stayed in their hometown to care for the children.
This time, Willow had returned to her hometown for a week due to some matters, but once everything was taken care of, she returned to Buscen City.
The numerous bags Willow carried contained their daily necessities, with a significant portion dedicated to her four little treasures.
After tidying up the house, Willow told Lara, "Mom, I have a part-time job tonight. I'm heading out now. There are some eggs in the pot. When they are ready, you can feed them to the kids."
"Alright, I got it. Go on, be careful on the road," Lara seemed impatient, but she still reminded Willow to be careful.
Willow put on some light makeup and left the house. She had already arranged this part-time job while on the train. She belonged to a part-time job group, where various job opportunities were posted along with the daily wage.
She would be working as a waitress at a nightclub for the night. The job was simple—she would deliver orders to the customers and promote the nightclub's signature drinks on the side.
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In Cloud Realm, a nightclub in Buscen City, Willow was instructed to wear its uniform. It was a short black wrap skirt barely reaching her thighs, with a deep V-neck that could easily expose a little too much with even a slight slip.
Willow was uncomfortable; she had never dressed like this before. However, this part-time job paid two thousand dollars for a single night. If she managed to sell a few bottles of alcohol, she would also receive a commission.
Even if she couldn't sell the alcohol, the two thousand from the part-time job would buy clothes for her four babies for the coming season. Their clothes from last year were already too small. With autumn arriving, the kids needed warmer clothes.
For the sake of the two thousand dollars, she would have to get used to this, even if it made her uncomfortable.
"Willow, someone in VIP Room V8 has ordered premium cigarettes. Take them over, and carry this tray. Don't underestimate the two bottles on it—each bottle is worth two hundred thousand dollars. If you manage to sell a bottle, you'll get a commission of ten thousand dollars," the nightclub manager called out to Willow and handed her the tray.
Willow nodded repeatedly, "Alright, I'll do my best."
"Hey, let me tell you, V8 is filled with important people. Be careful with your actions. You can't afford to offend anyone in there," the manager reminded her.