Arc 1.14
The Wicked Child of the Stepmother
Xie Yanjing took Nian Zhen on a private jet to another city.
What the heck?!!
Brother, aren’t you being a bit excessive?
You said you were just taking me somewhere to relax, but here you are, flying me to another city on a private jet.
I know the city we’re going to is far away, and it would take days to drive to where we’re going, but still.
A private jet, really?
Nian Zhen hugged Xiao Pang as they disembarked.
Nearly five hours had passed by the time they arrived, and the luxurious trip reminded him of his superstar life.
I’m pretty rich myself, but I’ve never flown in my own private jet before.
Xie Yanjing was dressed casually in a tailored dark-brown shirt, three-quarter-length white pants, and sneakers, with a black watch on his wrist that Nian Zhen estimated to be worth at least ten million yuan with just a glance.
Nian Zhen felt a chill.
Now that he thought about it, most of the clothes in his wardrobe was bought by Xie Yanjing.
And not to mention the random accessories that had suddenly appeared in the wardrobe.
Nian Zhen thought they looked cute and were patterns he liked.
The prices probably weren’t too high, but if you examined the fabric closely, it was clearly not the kind you would find in the general market.
Have I been overlooking something important here?
[…] Host, you should’ve realized this ages ago!!
The male protagonist has been playing you for so long, and you still don’t know.
The system shouted in its mind, overcome with exasperation.
“Let’s go to the hotel first.”
Xie Yanjing patted the still-confused Nian Zhen on the head.
He said in a relaxed tone before leading him to the car.
A line of nearly ten bodyguards in black suits awaited them, and near the luxury car stood a chauffeur in a bowler hat with an impeccably formal stance.
I… can I back out of this?
Brother, you’re not luring me into some mafia lair, are you?
Who am I?
Where am I?
And what am I doing here?
As they reached the car, the bodyguards all greeted Xie Yanjing with deep respect.
Nian Zhen stood behind him, taking in the other two cars in the convoy, with one in front and one in the back, each driven by more of the bodyguards awaiting their boss.
A sense of impending danger rose in Nian Zhen’s mind.
The Xie family… No, Xie Yanjing himself wields this kind of power?
Before he knew it, Nian Zhen was seated beside Xie Yanjing in the car.
Xiao Pang he was holding was taken by the bodyguard sitting in the front passenger seat, while Nian Zhen sat obediently next to Xie Yanjing.
Brother, you’re way too cool.
You’re like the ultra-handsome heir of a mafia boss in a novel.
If only you had a little bit of a playboy streak, I bet you’d have sweet-looking heroines and side characters throwing themselves at you in no time.
After about an hour’s drive, they arrived at a beach.
Nian Zhen’s eyes lit up with excitement when he saw the clear blue ocean.
The beach!!
It’s really the beach.
Oh my gosh, I want to go swimming so badly.
Wah, wah.
Why did I have to end up as the villain?
If I weren’t a villain, I could just freeload off Brother for life.
Why, why?
Wah, wah.
Nian Zhen cheered in his mind, both thrilled and a bit wistful, his big eyes scanning the beach with excitement.
Then, Nian Zhen was stunned to see a large helicopter waiting, along with several men in military uniforms.
“We’ll need to take the chopper to get to the private island.”
“?”
Big Brother, just be honest with me, you’re not planning to kidnap me and force me into labor, right?
Because I feel like you’re constantly keeping me on my toes with these surprises.
Despite his inner thoughts, on the outside, Nian Zhen appeared obedient, with a hint of excitement showing through.
“Just a bit longer.
I’ve already arranged for the chef to prepare fresh seafood for you.”
“Yes, brother.”
Now we’re talking.
I’ve been craving seafood for ages—big, grilled shrimp, or maybe lobster, or even grilled squid.
Ah, ah, ah.
Just thinking about it makes me hungry.
Nian Zhen’s enthusiasm shot up by another 100%.
Meanwhile, back at the Xie family mansion…
Du Yao, the Xie family’s mistress, dressed in a luxurious light purple gown embroidered with gold accents, sat poised on a large sofa.
Her hair was swept up to reveal her slender neck, adorned with a matching diamond necklace and earrings.
She leaned back with a cool smile, her fingers lightly tracing the diamonds on her ring as her eyes lowered thoughtfully.
“You think an apology alone will make me forgive you?”
She asked with a slight smile, looking over at Madame Meng, who sat tensely on the opposite sofa.
“Madame Xia, please accept my sincerest apologies.
It’s my fault for not raising my daughter well…”
“Oh, so this was your daughter’s doing, then, Madame Meng?” Du Yao interrupted, her gaze sharp as she looked deeply into Madame Meng’s eyes.
“…” Madame Meng fell silent, bowing her head to avoid her look, though inside, she was seething.
This wretched woman, this mistress, why must I lower myself to her today?!!
What Madame Meng didn’t realize was just how deeply Du Yao resented her, even though she never showed it, preferring to maintain the commanding demeanor of the mistress of the great family.
Du Yao harbored a bitterness over having her son taken from her arms.
In those early days, she used to cry every night over his photo, feeling utterly powerless.
Throughout it all, Du Yao had never openly expressed her grievances, maintaining a low profile in order to rely on Chairman Meng to escape a family that intended to sell her into marriage with a man older than her own father.
Though she had, indeed, become another man’s mistress, enduring the scorn, she felt that Madame Meng’s choice to target an innocent child was especially cruel and merciless. This story is hosted at g.com.
Seeing the meek and insecure demeanor of Meng Zhenzhen now only deepened Du Yao’s rage.
If she hadn’t resolved to forge a new future, she would have never contacted her son directly.
Instead, she consistently pressured Chairman Meng to provide updates about him.
As a result, she knew exactly how Meng Zhenzhen had been raised.
Otherwise, after Chairman Meng’s death, she wouldn’t have hurried to take her son away from the Meng family.
And this venomous snake before her still dared to meddle with the inheritance meant for Meng Zhenzhen.
Though it was substantial, it was nothing compared to the Meng family’s entire business empire.
Du Yao had long swallowed her resentment, thinking that once she and her son severed ties with the Meng family, there’d be no reason for further animosity.
She intended to maintain a virtuous image in Xie Heng’s eyes, to keep things clean and unentangled.
Yet, Madame Meng had decided to stir up trouble first.
Her son—she could reprimand him as she pleased, but what right did others have to do the same?
Although Du Yao entertained thoughts of using her son to her advantage, it was never to the extent of ruining his future or destroying his life.
She merely intended to keep him from surpassing her new son in status, ensuring that Chairman Xie wouldn’t find it unpleasant.
Once Meng Zhenzhen decided to pursue his own path, it would be his choice.
With the assets bestowed by Chairman Meng, he wouldn’t need to work another day if he used them wisely.
By the time his younger brother grew up and became independent, he wouldn’t need to assist him anymore.
She had secured her position within the Xie family, and even Xie Yanjing couldn’t challenge her.
Everyone would be content, their desires fulfilled.
Even if Xie Heng eventually lost interest in her and found someone new, her status as the matriarch of the Xie family would remain unshaken.
“Madame Meng, let me tell you something.
You’ve come to apologize to me today, but where’s your daughter?
Why isn’t she here?
I don’t feel any sincerity at all.”
“They’re both abroad…”
“What?
They’ve fled?!!” Du Yao placed a hand on her chest, staring at Madame Meng in disbelief.
Her expression quickly shifted to one of fury.
“The Meng family is truly remarkable.
You bullied me and my son, and you think a simple apology can make it all go away?
And the culprits don’t even have the decency to show their faces?
Now they’ve run off abroad?
What do you take me and my son for—easy targets you can mistreat at will, just like before?”
“Let me make one thing clear to you, Madame Meng.
I haven’t done anything to your family—not yet.
The person responsible is my husband, Chairman Xia,” Du Yao smirked.
“I can forgive you for this insincere, empty apology of yours. But as for Chairman Xia, I truly don’t know whether he will forgive the Meng family or not.”
Madame Meng’s face turned even paler.
“I suggest you hurry back and figure out how to appease Chairman Xia’s anger. Butler, kindly see our guest out.”
With a dismissive glance at Madame Meng, Du Yao left the parlor, followed by her maids, who fawned over her attentively.
Meanwhile, Madame Meng was escorted out of the mansion under the cold stares of the servants.
Three hours later, all partnerships between the Xie family’s businesses and the Meng family’s enterprises were terminated.
And this was only the beginning.