Arc.
1.20
The Wicked Child of the Stepmother
Nian Zhen looked at the table filled with his favorite dishes.
Xie Yanjing sat at the head of the table, while he took a seat nearby, the distance between them feeling much smaller than he’d feared.
Seeing that Xie Yanjing had no intent to settle any scores with White Lotus Meng Zhenzhen right now, Nian Zhen felt himself relax.
Seeing these familiar dishes made him almost tear up.
I missed this so much.
Over there, finding food like this was nearly impossible.
I never even got to eat a simple steamed bun.
Every time I had a meal, I thought about sitting here, eating good food with you, Brother.
I felt so alone, and it was freezing there.
I hate the cold, but even bundled up, I was still cold all the time.
It was miserable.
Gah, why am I getting so dramatic right now?
Xie Yanjing heard every thought Nian Zhen had, feeling his own heart ache in response.
Gently, he placed a piece of meat into Nian Zhen’s bowl and said softly.
“Eat up.”
Looking down at the large piece of meat, Nian Zhen’s eyes began to sting, and finally, he took his chopsticks and placed the food in his mouth.
The familiar flavor he had longed for filled him with warmth.
Xie Yanjing kept watching Nian Zhen eat, and each time he finished a bite, he added more food to his bowl.
No matter where Xiao Zhen looked, he was served that dish.
“Brother, don’t just keep serving me. Why aren’t you eating?”
Nian Zhen said, genuinely moved.
Xie Yanjing’s actions, though he said nothing, Nian Zhen could feel the care in his actions, and any feeling of distance melted away.
Brother, the more you do this, the harder it is for me to let go.
Xie Yanjing froze, watching Nian Zhen with his cheeks full as he quietly chewed.
A feeling of tenderness stirred within him, sweet and profound.
So, Xiao Zhen…still feels the same way about me.
This realization made Xie Yanjing feel as if he might cry.
The coldness in his heart eased a little.
Though outwardly he remained composed, his heart raced.
He watched Nian Zhen shovel food into his mouth, then added more meat to his bowl.
This meal, Nian Zhen ate three bowls of rice, feeling he hadn’t had a meal this satisfying in a long time.
After they finished eating, Xie Yanjing led Nian Zhen to see his room.
Standing close together, Nian Zhen felt that he was so small.
Xie Yanjing had grown into a full-grown man, towering over him at over 190 centimeters, while Nian Zhen stood at only 175.
Nian Zhen’s room had been completely redecorated and was much larger, as though two rooms had been combined.
Everything was arranged to suit his tastes, and there was even a small reading area filled with novels.
Nian Zhen stood there, looking at Xie Yanjing’s broad back, and finally, with misty eyes, he asked,
“Brother, if you don’t care about me, then why are you doing all this?”
“Xiao Zhen…I’m sorry.”
“…”
“At that time…I was afraid Xie Lanzhong would see. I didn’t mean to push you away.”
Xie Yanjing lowered his head, looking directly into Nian Zhen’s eyes.
Regret, pain, and self-blame filled his gaze.
Nian Zhen was stunned—he never imagined that Xie Yanjing would be the one to apologize.
“I…I like you so much. How could I ever reject you? But back then, I had nothing. I couldn’t protect you, Xiao Zhen, I’m so sorry. Can you forgive me?”
Xie Yanjing knelt down.
Startled, Nian Zhen tried to pull him up, but he was pulled into an embrace by the male protagonist, even though they were both standing
“B…Brother, you…” Nian Zhen stammered, never imagining that the cold, stoic person would do such a thing.
Xie Yanjing confessed to him, kneeling in front of him.
Nian Zhen was truly at a loss, but in his heart, he felt incredibly happy, though he was also confused.
Does this mean that everything Xie Yanjing had done for him before—caring for him so well—was because he liked him…?
A wave of warmth washed over him…
Nian Zhen’s own heart softened.
He had liked Xie Yanjing for a long time, and seeing him like this, he couldn’t remain firm for long.
His heart wavered, and in the end, he wrapped his arms around him in return.
“Brother…I’m not angry anymore.”
Nian Zhen leaned in, and finally, he was pulled into Xie Yanjing’s arms.
“Xiao Zhen…let’s stay together.”
Xie Yanjing’s low voice murmured, his prominent nose brushing against Xiao Zhen’s soft brown hair as he inhaled the familiar, missed scent.
In the moment that Nian Zhen couldn’t see, Xie Yanjing’s dark eyes shone with possessive satisfaction, an overwhelming love and longing.
“Mhm.”
Nian Zhen replied shyly, his face and ears flushed red.
A sweet smile spread across his lips as he nestled into Xie Yanjing’s shoulder, feeling safe and content.
[…] The system quietly disappeared.
The darkness level in the male lead’s heart had reached a full 100%, yet both the host and the system remained bound to this world—held back by the male lead’s deep attachment.
The possessive nature of its master was extremely intense.
Even though this was only a fragment of his soul, the deep-seated personality will never change.
He would hold what he cherished in the palm of his hand, allowing no one else to come near.
Three months passed since Nian Zhen returned to live with Xie Yanjing.
After his film shoot wrapped up, he waved goodbye to the entertainment industry entirely, choosing instead to live a relaxed and lazy life.
No one knew better than Nian Zhen just how lazy he truly was.
He enjoyed acting, sure, but he loved money even more.
If he hadn’t been pulled from his previous life, Nian Zhen had already planned to retire by thirty, once he had saved enough to live comfortably for the rest of his life.
Then he’d be content to stay home, plant a garden, cook in his spare time, and spend his days lazily reading novels.
He had no grand ambitions and no lofty dreams.
What he wanted was simple, yet hard to achieve—a life of comfort and freedom, without the burden of ever having to work again.
But now, he could finally live out his dreams!!
His mission succeeded without having to do anything.
Nian Zhen had once asked the system what would happen if he failed, and it told him he’d truly die and wouldn’t be able to return to the real world.
There was no harsh punishment beyond that; after all, Nian Zhen was already technically dead, so there was no difference in the consequences.
He had lived his life to the fullest.
Nian Zhen had visited Aunt Du, who seemed to be doing well.
She was a very good person, acting so saintly.
As it turned out, a year ago, that wicked father, Chairman Xia, had suffered a severe accident, leaving him paralyzed and unable to walk.
Du Yao, being just a woman with no significant knowledge, was easily overthrown by Xie Yanjing, who took control of Chairman Xia’s power.
Now Aunt Du had to care for a disabled husband and a young son while staying wary of Xie Yanjing’s expression, fearing that her stepson might one day seek revenge.
On top of that, she had discovered his secret— Xie Yanjing had feelings for her son, Meng Zhenzhen.
And Xie Yanjing was the one who’d orchestrated Elder Xia’s downfall.
Du Yao, overwhelmed by fear, didn’t dare to scheme any longer.
However, she also felt some relief knowing that there was a way for her to survive, as Xie Yanjing liked her son.
She just needed to remain calm and modest, and she would get through this catastrophe.
However, the good life she had once known was gone for good.
Now, Du Yao spent her days caring for Xie Heng and raising their young son.
She no longer enjoyed the status she once had, nor could she show her face proudly in high society.
The Xie family mansion was her stepson’s control, with no familiar faces left; They had been relocated to a mid-sized mansion in the suburbs Their life was now modest, not luxurious, but Du Yao had come to terms with it.
She feared Xie Yanjing’s cruelty more than anything, so she chose to live quietly in white clothing, calming her mind.
Nian Zhen knew Aunt Du had received her comeuppance.
She was now responsible for caring for her paralyzed husband and young son, and her once-comfortable life was no more.
Du Yao feared Xie Yanjing so much that she didn’t even dare to tell Nian Zhen about the family’s current situation because everything was under Xie Yanjing’s control, and he knew every move she made.
When Du Yao saw her son, who had brought her an array of gifts, she noticed just how much Meng Zhenzhen had grown.
As he did, his beauty also grew.
He looked so much like her, his face gentle and pure, though his gaze was simpler.
Sometimes, they even showed a bit of naivety.
Listening to him speak admiringly of her stepson, she could only shiver slightly; at least in front of her son, Xie Yanjing was able to hide his true self convincingly.
Her son was firmly within Xie Yanjing’s grasp—and he had no idea.
Du Yao leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes, her three-year-old son Junheng waving eagerly to his older brother from her lap.
Xie Junheng seemed very fond of Meng Zhenzhen, which brought Aunt Du some small comfort.
She had fought all her life.
Now, this ending felt like mercy from above.
Seeing Du Yao accept her situation with resignation, Nian Zhen could only sigh.
He did feel some pity for her.
If her own family, the Du Family, hadn’t tried to sell her off to an older man with lecherous tendencies, she might never have resorted to such ruthless means to survive.
Her innocence was shattered by that family.
Moreover, she still had a maternal instinct, and though she was selfish, she never truly abandoned her son.
She simply chose the wrong methods, which led to this outcome.
So Nian Zhen did his part as a dutiful son, helping her when necessary.
Between them, there was now no debt left to settle.